England hosted the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975 and the matches consisted of 60 overs per team with players wearing whites and red balls used.
Eight teams participated in the first tournament: The six Test nations — Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies — together with Sri Lanka and a merged team from East Africa. South Africa were not included as they were excluded from international cricket due to apartheid.
One of the most inexplicable batting efforts in one-day history was made by India’s little master Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 36 not out from 174 balls and batted through the 60 overs. India managed just 132 for three chasing England’s 334 for four.
Dennis Amiss scored the first World Cup century — 137 from 147 balls for England in that match.
Favourites West Indies needed a herculean effort from their last pair, Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts, to get them past Pakistan as the duo put on 64 runs to win.
West Indies then thrashed Australia by seven wickets at The Oval, where Alvin Kallicharran’s 78 included a noteworthy attack on Dennis Lillee.
Another highlight of that World Cup was Glenn Turner’s two centuries for New Zealand, including 171 not out against East Africa.
In the first semi-final, Australia’s Gary Gilmour came up with the best bowling figures in the tournament by taking six wickets for just 14 runs as England were bowled out for 93 in 36.2 overs, after being reduced to 37 for 7.
Australia struggled with the run chase and were in deep trouble after slipping to 39/6. However, Gilmour rose to the occasion with a run-a-ball 28 to see his team home.
In the second semi-final, New Zealand, after being put in to bat by the West Indies, looked like they would posti a good score after being 98 for 1, with captain Glenn Turner (36) and Geoff Howarth (51) doing the bulk of the scoring. However, once they departed, the Black Caps lost nine wickets for 90 runs and were eventually bundled out for 158 in 52.2 overs. The Caribbean side knocked off the runs in 40.1 overs with five wickets to spare.
In the final, the West Indies beat Australia by 17 runs, with skipper Clive Lloyd scoring a brilliant 102 from 85 balls. The Australian innings was marred by a series of run-outs — five in all, with Vivian Richards the fielder for three of them.
