It’s 40 years since the World Cup was first played in 1975. Most of the players in the 2015 weren’t born or were toddlers during the inaugural edition. Tulika Bhattacharya lists 12 first in the quadrennial cricketing showpiece.
1. Dennis Amiss (England) faced the first-ever ball – against India in 1975.
2. Madan Lal (India) bowled the first-ever ball – against England in 1975.
3. Mohinder Amarnath took the first-ever wicket in World Cup history when he had John Jameson (England) caught by S Venkataraghavan in the first edition of the tournament.
4. Dennis Amiss became the first centurion in World Cup when he cracked 137 in the inaugural match against India in 1975.
5. Dennis Amiss also became the first-ever Man of the Match in World Cup history for his hundred against India in the 1975 edition.
6. Dennis Amiss and Keith Fletcher became the first to add a century partnership in World Cup history when they put on 176 for the second wicket against India in the 1975 World Cup.
7. Dennis Lillee became the first bowler in World Cup history to take a five-for [5-34] — against Pakistan in 1975.
8. Gary Gilmour became the first bowler to take a five-for (5 for 48) in a World Cup final — against the West Indies in 1975
9. Clive Lloyd (West Indies) became the first player to score a century [102] in a World Cup final — against Australia in 1975.
10. Martin Snedden became the first — and the only bowler so far — to concede 100+ runs when he gave away 102 runs against England in the 1983 World Cup.
11. Chetan Sharma recorded the first hat-trick in World Cup — against New Zealand in 1987.
12. Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid became the first — and the only so far — pair to add 300 runs when they put on 318 for the second wicket against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup.
1. Dennis Amiss (England) faced the first-ever ball – against India in 1975.
2. Madan Lal (India) bowled the first-ever ball – against England in 1975.
3. Mohinder Amarnath took the first-ever wicket in World Cup history when he had John Jameson (England) caught by S Venkataraghavan in the first edition of the tournament.
4. Dennis Amiss became the first centurion in World Cup when he cracked 137 in the inaugural match against India in 1975.
5. Dennis Amiss also became the first-ever Man of the Match in World Cup history for his hundred against India in the 1975 edition.
6. Dennis Amiss and Keith Fletcher became the first to add a century partnership in World Cup history when they put on 176 for the second wicket against India in the 1975 World Cup.
7. Dennis Lillee became the first bowler in World Cup history to take a five-for [5-34] — against Pakistan in 1975.
8. Gary Gilmour became the first bowler to take a five-for (5 for 48) in a World Cup final — against the West Indies in 1975
9. Clive Lloyd (West Indies) became the first player to score a century [102] in a World Cup final — against Australia in 1975.
10. Martin Snedden became the first — and the only bowler so far — to concede 100+ runs when he gave away 102 runs against England in the 1983 World Cup.
11. Chetan Sharma recorded the first hat-trick in World Cup — against New Zealand in 1987.
12. Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid became the first — and the only so far — pair to add 300 runs when they put on 318 for the second wicket against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup.