10 Interesting Facts About ICC Cricket World Cup 2003

by Satish Adake
Satish Adake
Ponting- Cricket World Cup 2003
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Today we bring you 10 facts about ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 was scheduled in South Africa and was successfully completed even after having some security issues. The tournament had the largest number of matches played between the 14 participant countries. Some of the important and interesting facts relating to ICC Cricket World Cup tournament played during 2003 are discussed below:

Cricket World Cup 2003 Facts:

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  1. The 14 teams that participated in the tournament were divided into two groups. The format of the tournament was similar to the one introduced in 1999. The group level & higher level matches were played between the teams from both the groups.
  2. The format of the tournament was introduced in the 1999 Cricket World Cup. The total teams were divided into two groups, and the top three teams get qualified for the Super Six stage. The tournament featured 14 teams that played a total of 54 matches – the largest number of matches in the history of the World Cup at that time
    The two groups of the tournament were: Pool A: Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada & Netherlands and Pool B: Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Kenya & Namibia
  3. The tournament was specially referred to as Sachin Tendulkar’s tournament. Tendulkar had scored 623 runs in the tournament with the help of 1 hundred and 6 fifties. His efforts were appreciated when he was awarded the Golden bat after the tournament.
  4. Sourav Ganguly – the captain of the Indian team had performed well in the Cricket World Cup 2003. He became the second batsman after Mark Waugh to score three centuries in a single World Cup tournament.
  5. Chaminda Vaas bagged 23 wickets in the Cricket World Cup 2003 for Sri Lanka and head the bowling chart, followed by the Australians Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath who took 22 and 21 wickets respectively. Vasbert Drakes of West Indies took 5-wickets haul twice in the tournament.
  6. Hat-tricks became part of the World Cup tournament and both Chaminda Vaas & Bret Lee both took a hat-trick each in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
  7. There were numerous upsets in the tournament. The teams that were performing better at the beginning such as Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, and England got eliminated at later stages. South Africa lost by 1 run, England couldn’t play against Zimbabwe due to political reasons; New Zealand had to withdraw a match against Kenya due to security reason. Just after two days, when the tournament was started, Shane Warne was banned from playing because he tested positive for a prohibited drug. Australian spinner and a leading bowler of the team was sent home.
  8. Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan became one of the fastest bowlers of the Cricket World Cup 2003 when he bowled with a speed of 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in a pool match.
    John Davison of Canada made the fastest hundred in the history of Cricket World Cup when he scored 111 runs not out off 76 balls with 8 fours & 6 sixes.
  9. The prize money in the Cricket World Cup 2003: The winners of the tournament were given $4,000,000/- and the Runner-up received $2,000,000/-
  10. Australia won the Cricket World Cup 2003 final against India by 125 runs. It was the largest winning margin in a World Cup final match. It was Australia’s second successive World Cup win and their third title. Sourav Ganguly & his team played well in the tournament but failed to fulfill the dream of winning the World Cup.

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