Looking Back 1975 World cup

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World Cup No. 1
Teams 8
Minnows East Africa, Sri Lanka (not a Test nation until 1982)

Format Two qualifying groups of four, playing each other once in 60-over matches; top two in each group progressed to semi-finals; 15 matches in all.

Innovations Not many, apart from the concept itself (there had only been 18 ODIs worldwide before this). Most teams still treated the matches as if they were truncated Tests - especially India, who played for a draw in the first game, responding to England's 334 for 4 with 132 for 3. Sunil Gavaskar batted through the 60 overs for 36 not out; a disgusted spectator dumped his lunch at the opener's feet.

Early running England romped their group games - the tightest was an 80-run victory over New Zealand. Favourites West Indies nearly came unstuck against Pakistan, but last pair Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts put on 64 to win. They then hammered Australia by seven wickets at The Oval, where Alvin Kallicharran's 78 included a memorable attack on Dennis Lillee. Glenn Turner hit two tons for NZ, including 171 not out v East Africa.

The semis Headingley served up a swinging, seaming paradise for England - but it was girthy Gary Gilmour (6 for 14) who did the damage as England tumbled for 93. Australia were reeling at 39 for 6 themselves before Gilmour joined Doug Walters and took them home. West Indies eased past NZ at The Oval with 19.5 overs to spare, thanks to another sparkling innings from Kalli (72).

The final It was midsummer's day (June 21), and Lord's needed all the available daylight to cram the match in. It eventually finished at 8.42pm. After Roy Fredericks trod on his wicket as he hooked Lillee out of the ground, Clive Lloyd took up the fight in memorable fashion, crunching 12 fours and two sixes in his 102, and the eventual 291 for 8 looked too hot for Australia. The early batsmen kept trying quick runs to Viv Richards; he kept running them out. At 233 for 9 it seemed over, but last pair Jeff Thomson and Lillee inched the Aussies to within 18 of victory before the fifth-run-out ended the fun.

Last hurrah Only Lillee, Thomson and Marsh of this great Australian side graced another World Cup. Elegant West Indian Rohan Kanhai bowed out of international cricket with a studied 55 in the final - he helped the rampaging Lloyd put on 149. Kanhai was a late squad replacement after Garry Sobers cried off injured. For England, the Packer-bound Amiss, Knott, Greig and Snow played their only World Cup, and skipper Mike Denness lasted only one more Test.

First hurrah One-day cricket itself - the five-day game had a fight on its hands after the first "festival of cricket" lit up the imagination. Of the players, Javed Miandad, just 18, made his international debut, and had Clive Lloyd caught behind at Edgbaston. Uniquely, he was also to play in the next five World Cups. Imran Khan took time off from captaining Oxford to play in the first of his five. Six of the West Indians also played in the next final (and Greenidge, Richards, Lloyd and Roberts in the one after that as well).

Not to be forgotten At the height of that last-wicket excitement in the final, Lillee slapped a Van Holder no-ball straight to Fredericks at extra cover. The crowd missed the call and rushed on, thinking the match was over. Fredericks tried another run-out, only to see the ball disappear into the horde. "Keep running," shouted Lillee to his mate. When order was restored, umpires Dickie Bird and Tom Spencer declared they could have two runs. "Pig's arse," cried Thommo. "We've been running up and down here all afternoon!" So they gave them three.