Oregonsportshall.com – Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans around the globe. It is also one of the oldest sports, having been around since the 16th century. The World Cup of Cricket is the pinnacle of the sport and has been held every four years since its inaugural tournament in 1975. This article will explore the history of the World Cup of Cricket and its evolution over the years.
Origins of the World Cup of Cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) was established in 1909 and was responsible for the governing of the sport at an international level. In 1971, the ICC decided to set up an official World Cup of Cricket tournament. The first tournament was held in 1975 and featured eight teams competing against each other. The tournament was held in England and the host nation emerged victorious in the final against Australia. This marked the beginning of the World Cup of Cricket.
Evolution of the World Cup of Cricket
Since its inception, the World Cup of Cricket has continued to evolve. In 1983, the tournament was expanded to include nine teams, with Sri Lanka being added as the ninth team. In 1987, the tournament was further expanded to include ten teams. This was followed by the addition of South Africa in 1992. In 1996, the tournament was further expanded to include twelve teams. This expansion also saw the introduction of a Super Six stage, where the top two teams from each group would advance to the knockout stages.
The tournament has also seen changes in the format and duration. In 2003, the tournament was shortened to just 45 days and featured 50 overs per team. This was followed by the introduction of the Twenty20 format in 2007, with the tournament reduced to just 20 days. The tournament was further expanded in 2011 with the addition of Afghanistan and Ireland, bringing the total number of teams to fourteen. The Twenty20 format was also retained for the tournament.
Recent Trends in the World Cup of Cricket
In recent years, the World Cup of Cricket has seen some changes in the format and the participation of teams. In 2014, the tournament was reduced to just 14 teams, with the exclusion of some of the Associate teams. This was followed by the introduction of the double round-robin format, where each team would play each other twice. This format has been retained for the 2019 tournament. The tournament is also being held in England and Wales, with the final match scheduled to take place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
Conclusion
The World Cup of Cricket is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of sport. It has evolved over the years, with changes in the format and the number of teams participating. The tournament is a great platform for up and coming players to showcase their skills, and for cricket fans to witness some of the best cricketing action in the world. The 2019 tournament promises to be an exciting one and it will be interesting to see which team will emerge victorious from the tournament.
