The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is an international cricket competition established in 1975.[1] It is contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's global governing body.[2] The tournament generally takes place every four years. Most recently, the 2023 Cricket World Cup, hosted by India, was won by Australia, who beat India. The current trophy was instituted in 1999. It always remains with the ICC, and a replica is awarded to the winning team.[3][4] For the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, the host nation and the seven other highest-ranked nations automatically qualify for the World Cup, while other nations including associate and affiliate ICC members play in a qualification tournament, the World Cup Qualifier. Though an associate member is yet to reach the final, Kenya did reach the semi-finals in 2003.[5] Australia is the most successful team in the competition's history, winning six tournaments and finishing as runner-up twice.[6] Twice, teams have won successive tournaments: the West Indies won the first two editions (1975 and 1979) and Australia won three in a row (1999, 2003, and 2007). Australia has played in the most finals (eight out of thirteen: 1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2023). England has lost the most World Cup finals, ending as runner-up in all three final appearances before their victory in the 2019 tournament.[7][8]
Of the twenty teams that have qualified for at least one Cricket World Cup, seven have contested a tournament final.[9] Seven venues have hosted the final; only two of those – Lord's, in London, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground – have hosted multiple finals.[10] India is the only country that has hosted a World Cup final at more than one venue, with Eden Gardens, Kolkata, hosting in 1987, Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium hosting in 2011 and Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting in 2023.
- ^ "ICC CWC History". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ "ICC Cricket World Cup". ESPN. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ Rodrigopulle, Elmo (11 April 2007). "Big money for winner of World Cup 2007". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Cabinet of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Wijesiri, Lionel (28 April 2011). "Battle for World cricket supremacy". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Cabinet of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "Outsiders seek to prove their worth". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu Group. 4 March 2007. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "World Cup / Records / Series results". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Williamson, Martin. "The World Cup – A brief history". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Vatsyayana, Manoj (14 February 2011). "A history of the Cricket World Cup from 1975 to 2007". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Records / World Cup / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "Mumbai now also becomes cricket capital". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: HT Media Ltd. 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.