World Cup History - England

1975

Hosts England topped the Group A table winning all three games. As a result, they played in the semi-finals against Australia but capitulated to 93 all out, with Australian left-arm swing bowler Gary Gilmour wreaking havoc taking six for 14. England went down by four wickets.

1979

The England team again started off well emerging victorious in the three Group A games, topping the table. But this time, the jinx of getting past semi-finals was broken as they escaped with a nine-run win against New Zealand. However, they lost the final to West Indies by 92 runs, giving skipper Clive Lloyd his second title.

1983

After making a sensational start with five wins out of six games played, England topped the Group A table to play the semi-finals against a resurgent Indian side. However, they were outclassed by India losing the match by six wickets. Stylish left-handed batsman David Gower was the top run-getter with 384 runs for England in the World Cup.

1987

England secured the place in the semi-finals to play India as they accrued four wins out of six games played in the group stage. They went on to defeat defending champions India by 35 runs in a tense contest at Mumbai to play their second final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Australian batsman David Boon was the fulcrum to Australia’s 253 batting first. But, England lost again, as skipper Mike Gatting’s crucial wicket gave the away the momentum to Australia, as England lost the World Cup final by a narrow margin of seven runs.

1992

England stood second in the points table with five wins out of eight matches played facilitating a smooth entry into the semi-finals. In a rain interrupted match, fortunes fluctuated dramatically with South Africa needing 22 runs off 13 balls at one stage, which became 21 runs required from only one ball, as two overs were lost taking England to the finals. England fell short by 22 runs in the final against Pakistan, as two magical deliveries from left-arm pacer Wasim Akram dismissed Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis ending any hopes of the first World Cup title at Melbourne Cricket Ground.  

1996

England managed to reach the quarter-finals after a decent performance in the group stage to get beaten by Sri Lanka by five wickets at Faisalabad, after making 235 for eight batting first.

1999

England faced an ignominious exit as Zimbabwe pipped them to secure a place in the Super Sixes based on better net run rate.

2003

Placed in Pool A this time, England again could not get into the Super Sixes as Zimbabwe went ahead with better run rate with three wins from six games each.

2007

England qualified for the Super Eights, placed in Group C in the preliminary round. But, their progress was stalled as they crashed out of the World Cup with South Africa eclipsing them with a better win record.

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