June 7, 1975... marked the dawn of a new chapter in the world of cricket. The inaugural One Day International (ODI) World Cup was held in England, with eight nations participating.
Sports News: June 7, 1975... This date is etched in cricket history as the beginning of a golden chapter. On this day, the first ODI World Cup commenced on English soil. Eight teams from around the globe participated in this mega-event, with the inaugural match played between India and England at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground. This match is remembered not only for its thrilling cricket but also for some memorable and controversial moments.
60-Over Matches, White Clothing, and Day Games
The most distinctive feature of this World Cup was that all matches were 60 overs long, and players donned white attire. Colorful jerseys, fielding restrictions, and formats like T20 were unheard of. Matches were played solely during the day, and the pitches retained a distinctly traditional English character.
The participating teams were: India, England, New Zealand, East Africa, West Indies, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They were divided into two groups.
Group A comprised India, England, New Zealand, and East Africa.
Group B included West Indies, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
India vs England: The First-Ever World Cup Encounter
In the opening match at Lord's, England, winning the toss, elected to bat first. Led by captain Mike Denness, England displayed aggressive batting, smashing 334 runs for the loss of only four wickets in their 60 overs. At the time, this score was considered exceptionally high. In this historic match, England opener Dennis Amiss played a magnificent innings of 137 runs, scoring the first century in a World Cup match. Keith Fletcher and Chris Old also contributed significantly, propelling the score past 300.
Gavaskar's Slow Innings Sparks Controversy
When India began their chase, expectations were high for aggressive batting. However, India managed only 132 runs for 3 wickets in their 60 overs, losing the match by 202 runs. The biggest surprise was the performance of star batsman Sunil Gavaskar, who batted the entire 60 overs, facing 174 balls and scoring only 36 runs.
He hit only one boundary and no sixes. His defensive innings drew considerable criticism. It was suggested that Gavaskar deliberately played slowly because he disapproved of the ODI format. Years later, Gavaskar himself admitted that it was one of the worst innings of his life and that he could have declared himself retired hurt.
Dennis Amiss Becomes the First Centurion
Dennis Amiss, the hero of England's innings, scored a magnificent 137 runs, becoming the first centurion in a World Cup match. His contribution put England in a commanding position. Keith Fletcher and Chris Old also provided valuable support. The Indian team was captained by off-spinner Srinivas Venkataraghavan.
India managed only one victory in this World Cup—a 10-wicket win against East Africa. In that match, Gavaskar himself scored 65 runs (from 86 balls, including 9 fours)*.
