5 teams that impressed but could not win the World Cup

In cricket, or any sports for that matter, not always doesquality shinethrough, not always are the most valiant rewarded, sometimes you have nothing to show for your good display, nothing but the appreciation from everyone.Sometimes, however, the encomium is just as big a reward as the silverware.In the history of cricket, we have seen numerous occasions when the so-called Goliaths were defeated by the tiny Davids of the game,. A case in point being the Indians surmounting the West Indies juggernaut in 1983 and creating their own legacy. But you do not get fairy tale endings every time.So here are 5 teams that were impressive in one sense or the other, but not proficient enough to ultimately lift the World Cup trophy:(Note: Although West Indies didnt win the 1983 World Cup despite having been in outstanding form for most of the tournament, they havent been included in the following list as their defeat to India in the final was a huge upset rather than being a case of impressing but not having enough quality to go the full distance)

#5 South Africa 1992 World Cup

While the 1992 World Cup had its share of novelty with coloured jerseys and artificial lights being used for the very first time, South Africa making their first appearance in a World Cup was the biggest of them all.

South Africa, after years of segregation due to the practice of apartheid, were ultimately allowed on the international circuit just before the World Cup. The Proteas were like this breath of fresh air to the cricketing fraternity, providing some of the most scintillating and memorable performances of the tournament.

To make it into the last four of the tournament was no small deed in itself but to do so after just being re-introduced to world cricket was an even bigger achievement. The 1992 tournament eventually turned out to be the one that would set the South Africans back on the cricketing globe in so many ways, whether it was that amazing Jonty Rhodes run-out, still considered as one of the most iconic images of cricket history, or their perennial habit of losing their way and finding myriad ways to get out of big tournaments.

It could be safely said that brand South Africa was more or less set in stone with the ‘92 WC.

About the tournament itself, beating hosts Australia in their very first match was the perfect shot in the arm for the Proteas, propelling them to beating both the eventual finalists on their way to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Now this is ultimately where they were undone due to the erstwhile rules that existed in case of a rain-affected game, which left them with the impossible task of scoring 22 runs from a single ball after two overs were deemed to have been lost due to rain. Despite their sullied exit from the tournament, however, they would’ve definitely taken heart from the fact that they were able to impress the world once again after a long hiatus.

#4 Pakistan 1999 World Cup

While there remained dark clouds over the tournament and how it ultimately unfolded for the Pakistani team, there were no doubts that they were thoroughly impressive. Coming out as victors of their group after winning against the eventual champions Australia with ease, the loss against minnows Bangladesh did not cause too much of a fuss.

A similar pattern followed in the super sixes when they led the table despite losing two matches, thus reaching the semis with aplomb. It was after their brushing aside of New Zealand in the semis that people thought they could see a repeat of 1992. But things turned out differently much to the horror of Pakistani fans, as they were humbled by the Aussies in the finals, who made light work of chasing a target of 132.

Looking at the squad at hand, Pakistan had a plethora of talent in their starting XI to add to the fact that greats like Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed had to bide time on the sidelines throughout the World Cup .

Younis featured just once due to the brilliant form of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and the all-round display of Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq while Mushtaq was not even selected once due to the presence of Saqlain Mushtaq, who was on a different level altogether during the tournament.

There was no one force leading them to the finals like it happened 7 years back, when Imran Khan led them to glory almost through sheer will. This was a cohesive effort that saw them finish deserved runners-up. What eventually left a sour taste in the mouth, however, was the shock that the final provided, to the point that fans resorted to name-calling and alleged match-fixing against the team.

#3 South Africa 1999 World Cup

Everyone remembers the 1999 World Cup not because the Aussies mauled Pakistan in the final but for the juggernaut that was Lance Klusener. South Africa, in general, were a real handful throughout the tournament until, that is, they choked in the semi-finals.

That Australia-South Africa semi-final is what Klusener’s and Allan Donald’s nightmares are made of. People even today mull about that freak run-out that handed Australia the semi-finals and consequently the World Cup trophy. As mentioned before, South Africa, from the very beginning, do not like to go out in a humdrum manner; they have made getting eliminated by different ways their thing.

1999 was no different. Chasing a paltry 213 for a place in the final at Lord’s, they were given this final charge in the middle-order by Klusener, who had been a real tour de force throughout the tournament with both wickets as well as with solid performances in the middle-order.

But with one wicket remaining and one run to get from four balls, it looked like a cake walk with Klusener on strike, but things turned ugly as Klusener just buckled under pressure and decided to run himself out without realizing the importance of the situation, thus ending another South African World Cup performance that was riddled with “what ifs”.

#2 India 2003 World Cup

There were no doubts that the Aussies were firm favorites for the 2003 World Cup but to say that India were the cohesive unit (that is till the time they faced the Kangaroos) of the tournament won’t be wrong. Starting the tournament in a precarious manner, losing to the mighty Australia by 9 wickets, the Indian team from then on had a scintillating World Cup.

This was the new world order for a generation of Indian cricket lovers. Seeing the team do so good in the tournament, that too away from the subcontinent, was quite refreshing for the fans.

The team was a perfect mix of experience with the likes of Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar and the young blood of Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh among others, and capping it all was the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, who really marshaled his troops impeccably. This new India, their bonhomie, accentuated by those team huddles that soon became an emblem for this team, was what made the team seem capable of doing the improbable.

A single loss in the tournament till the finals, with quite a few scalps in the shape of victories over subcontinental neighbours Sri Lanka and Pakistan as well as overpowering England and New Zealand on their way. But the finals were a rude awakening for the team, having been so dominant throughout the tournament; it was a mere reminder of the gulping class between themselves and the Aussies.

Having conceded a record-breaking total in the finals, it was always a tall ask to chase a 350 plus target, leading to a comfortable victory for Australia.

Despite the hammering in the finals, the tournament was seen as a change of Indian cricket, which was for long plagued by personalities and individuals ruling the roost rather than it being a team game. The 2003 World Cup saw a change to it and thus it will long remain in the hearts of Indian cricket fans, perhaps (and I am going out on a limb to say this) even superseding the actual glory that was captured 8 years later.

#1 New Zealand 1992 World Cup

While the spotlight was more on their neighbours, Australia, to defend their World Cup title in front of their own fans, it was the Kiwis who had a far more resounding World Cup in 1992. Led, in the truest sense of the word, by their captain Martin Crowe, the Black Caps gave a good account of themselves throughout the tournament.

Having finished first in the round-robin stage under the aegis of captain Crowe’s bludgeoning batting and their homogenous mix of bowlers who were able to use the home conditions to their maximum advantage, the Kiwis looked like a safe bet to win the trophy, particularly after the Aussies’ dismal performance and elimination.

Apart from his cultured batting, which eventually earned him the player of the tournament title, Crowe was a really adept captain throughout the tournament and used each and every component of the team with alacrity. This helped turn this limited looking side into a fans favourite.

Whether it was using Mark Greatbatch as a pinch hitter, or the unorthodox use of spinner Deepak Patel as an opening bowler, or getting the best from the medium-pace attack of “Dibbly, Dobbly, Wibbly and Wobbly” - the quartet of bowlers who were immensely productive, so much so that Chris Harris, part of the quartet, eventually ended up as the 2nd highest wicket taker of the tournament.

The Kiwis were ultimately defeated by the eventual winners, Pakistan, after some coming of age batting by a young lad in Inzamam-ul-Haq, who just swayed the semifinals away from the New Zealanders at the crucial moment.