Australia set to become the first team to play 100 ODI world cup matches. We present to you 5 memorable matches across this long ans glorious journey from 1975. It's very obvious that we will miss quiet a few but these are matches that led to a significant change in either Australia's campaign that world cup or the history of cricket in general.
1) Vs England 1987 Finals, Kolkota:
After losing to WI in the 1979 finals and not making the 1983 finals, Australia under Allan Border fought with vengeance to reach the finals of 1987 against arch rivals England.Riding on back of David Boon's 75, Australia made a respectable 253. England looked in total control at 2/135 when Mike Gatting played the ever dubious reverse sweep of Allan Border which lead to a dramatic collapse.The English tail scared Australia a little but it wasn't enough.Australia winning by 7 runs
2 Vs West Indies,1996 Semi finals, Mohali:
Stuart Law and Micheal Bevan lifted Australia from 15/4 to 207/8. A total which looked far from enough untill it was was aided by Shane Warne's wizardry. 2/165 became 202 and Richie Richardson couldn't help his team slip to a horror defeat staying there stranded on 49*.
3) Vs SA, 1999 Semi Finals, Edgbaston:
Steven Waugh had engineered a famous chase to take Australia to the semi finals of 1999 world cup. He was at it again in the semi finals with who else but the 96 semi finals hero Micheal Bevan. Just like 96, it was Shane Warne who took task in his own had when Gibbs-Kirsten were going great guns. He got Kallis later but it was left for Damien Fleming to deal with Lance Klusner in the final over with 9 runs in the bank.Bang Bang went Klusner and with scores leveled, it seemed all over. A near run out on the 3rd ball, and a paranoid run out on the 4th meant match was tied and Australia went through on group stage rankings. 24 years later, the effects of this match are evident. Australia continue to win big occasions, SA keep succumbing.
4) Vs Pakistan, Group Stage, Johannesburg:
The defending champions were stripped of Shane Warne days before they began thier world cup defence.
Against an attack of Wasim, Waqar and Shoaib, Australia found themselves 50/3 with captain Ricky Ponting and rookie Andrew Symonds to repair the damage. Repair they did. Symonds 143 will go down as one of the great world cup innings of all time sheerly because of the impact it had on Australia, Pakistan and that world cup in general.
5) Vs New Zealand, Group Stage, Auckland:
The only match featuring in this list that didn't go Australia's way. Trent Boult decimated Australia for 151 and Brendon McCullum raged to 50(24). Then Mitchell Starc stamped his authority on the world cup which he went on the own. 6/28 almost doing the impossible. It set the tone for Australia going forward as they went on to win the world cup unbeaten after that.
