The last 12 months have been epic in the cricketing world. Last summer, we saw England revolutionize modern test cricket with the introduction of their famed "Baz-Ball" tactics, brought to them by their current head coach Brendan McCullum. We also saw the English become double world champions before Christmas as they held their nerve to defeat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final in Australia.
This summer, however, they have been knocked off their perch somewhat, and by their greatest rivals no less. For the last five years, Australia have clung on to the famous Urn, awarded to the winners of the Ashes series. They thumped England back in 2018, before retaining the crown the following summer following a 2-2 draw on English soil.
They returned down under last winter and the Baggy Greens picked up where they left off, romping to a 4-0 series victory. This summer, they returned to the Northern Hemisphere, and following resounding victories in the first two tests, it looked as though a first series victory on enemy territory since 2001 was on the cards. The hosts however can rely on their trusty captain Ben Stokes.
England tied the series after two tests thanks to the exploits of their talisman. And if it weren't for the customarily dreary English weather, they would have gone on to win 3-2, which would have been a spectacular result. It was ultimately unsuccessful, as the 2023 Ashes series ended with a final score of two tests each, ensuring that Australia once again held the Urn.
Now that the chapter has closed on the Ashes, attention turns to the upcoming Cricket World Cup which gets underway on October 5th with a repeat of the 2019 final, as holders England face off against New Zealand. Popular sports prediction sites have made hosts India the +200 favourites to lift the famous trophy for a second time. But who has tasted success in recent editions of the tournament?
2019 - England
England won their maiden Cricket World Cup trophy in 2019, beating New Zealand in a nail-biting final that ended in a tie, followed by a super over. The tournament was played in England and Wales, and it was the hosts that emerged as the clear favorites after they beat Australia by eight wickets in the semi-final.
Leading England's charge was their skipper Eoin Morgan, who scored 371 runs throughout the course of the competition including four half-centuries. Jofra Archer also played a crucial role in England's victory, taking 20 wickets at an economy rate of 4.57 and establishing himself as one of the finest bowlers in the world in the process.
2015 - Australia
Australia, which has won the Cricket World Cup five times in total, is without a doubt the most successful side in the tournament's history. At their storied home, the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground, they defeated regional rivals New Zealand by seven wickets in the championship match.
Aussie captain Michael Clarke played a match-winning innings in that final, scoring 74 runs off 72 balls. Throughout the tournament, Mitchell Starc was Australia's standout performer, taking 22 wickets at an average of 10.18. Glenn Maxwell was also a force to be reckoned with, scoring 324 runs at an average of 64.80.
2011 - India
Later this year, India will attempt to mimic the shenanigans they showed when they won their second Cricket World Cup title, making history 12 years ago. The final, which was also played on home soil in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, saw them defeat rival South Asian team Sri Lanka by a margin of six wickets. MS Dhoni, the captain of India, scored an undefeated 79 runs off 87 balls to win the match.
Yuvraj Singh, who played for the hosts and stood out throughout the competition by scoring 362 runs and collecting an additional 15 wickets, was rightfully awarded player of the tournament. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar, competing in his sixth and final World Cup, also had a significant impact, making two hundreds and totaling 482 runs during the competition.
2007 - Australia
Back in 2007, Australia were sitting atop the top of the cricketing world. They had just regained the Ashes following a 5-0 dismantling of England earlier in the year. Then, in the Autumn, they would romp to Cricket World Cup success.
They had plenty of experience in the form of captain Ricky Ponting, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, opener Matthew Hayden, and bowler Glenn McGrath. However, that was blended with the youthful up-and-comers such as Mitchell Johnson and All-Rounder Shane Watson. The result? Domination.
The Aussies won all 11 of their matches throughout the course of the tournament. They defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs in the final played at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Gilchrist was their star performer, scoring 149 runs in the final, and finishing the tournament with 576 runs, including two centuries. McGrath was also instrumental in Australia's victory, taking 26 wickets in the tournament at an average of 13.73.
