When Australia lifted their first World Cup title

The Eden Garden was jam-packed to watch two of the cricketing giants fighting for the coveted title as the world eagerly waited for a new world champion. With Australia and England dumping out hosts India and Pakistan, respectively, in the semis and powerhouse West Indies failing to qualify from the group stages, the crowd expected a class contest between the two finalists, both of whom had equal chances.

While Australia had India in their group, England had Pakistan, and both the cricketing veterans had qualified second from their respective groups. Interestingly, both the teams had lost to the hosts at least once in the group stages before overthrowing them in the semi-finals. 

With the World Cup tournament being hosted outside England for the first time, an Asian team was widely expected to reach the final. Not only was familiar conditions a reason, but Australia’s form preceding the World Cup wasn’t very optimistic.

While England had entered the 1987 Reliance World Cup on the back of consecutive wins - two Benson & Hedges Challenge Trophies, Sharjah Cup and Texaco Trophy, the Aussies had failed six of their ODI series. Their last win came early in 1986.

“We were a very unfancied side back in those days, but I knew the group we had would give it a red-hot go. I suppose it was beyond our wildest dreams that we’d actually win the thing, but it was a special time in our lives,” Allan Border had said years later, looking back on those times.

Both Australia and England reached World Cup finals in 1975 and 1979, respectively. Both were pegged as title contenders in the 1983 edition as well before India shocked all to reach the summit clash and eventually win it. That had somewhat started the end of West Indies’ dominance as the Men in Maroon never won the World Cup since.

Winning the toss in the ‘87 final, Australia decided to bat first, and their star opener, David Boon, rose to the occasion. With an opening stand of 75 runs between Boon and Geoff Marsh, Australia had their foundation set before the quick wickets of Dean Jones and Craig McDermott pulled England back into the game. 

After Boon departed for 75, skipper Allan Border and Mike Veletta steadied the ship as Australia ended their innings at 253. Though it wasn’t a big total even by those standards, England would later rue the 26 extra runs they gave away.

England didn’t have the best of starts, with McDermott removing England opener Tim Robinson for a duck on the first ball before Graham Gooch and Bill Athey forged a 65-run stand. Skipper Mike Gatting replaced an outgoing Gooch (35) next and dragged England to a strong position with another 68-run stand with Athey.

However, once Gatting (41) and Athey (58) fell, reducing England to 170/4, no English batsman managed to stand strong apart from Allan Lamb. With no one sticking to aid Lamb at the crease, the middle-order batsman had to go for big hits and throw away his wicket.

Phil DeFreitas and Gladstone Small were left till the end to pick the pieces, and they eventually fell short by just seven runs. While Steve Waugh and Border would take two wickets each, economic bowling by Bruce Reid and Simon O’Donnell helped Australia’s cause massively.

While the Aussies wouldn't win another World Cup for the next twelve years, they followed their 1999 World Cup triumph with two consecutive titles in 2003 and 2007. Australia’s fifth World Cup title came in 2015, making them the most successful team in the tournament history.