Cricket World Cup: 5 times when favourites won the title

#3 Australia, 2007

Australia won the third consecutive World Cup Title in 2007

Then ranked no. 1 in the ODI rankings, Australia were undoubtedly the favourites to clinch the title for the third time in succession.

Emerging as the dominant team of the decade, Team Australia were dominant in every format and every aspect of the game.

They did not lose even a match in the 2003 edition and remained unbeaten in 2007 edition as well.

Contested in the Carribean islands for the first time and between 14 teams, Australia showed clinical performances throughout the tournament.

Such was their dominance that even top-ranked teams could not compete with them.

They demolished South Africa in the semifinal by bowling them all out for 149 while chased it with more than 18 overs to spare.

In a rain-curtailed final match against Sri Lanka, an Adam Gilchrist special saw Australia finishing with a massive 281-4 in 38 overs. Gilchrist scored a 104-ball 149.

Chasing the total was always going to be tough for the island nation against the likes of McGrath, Tait and Bracken. Barring Jayasuriya and Sangakkara, none other Sri Lankan batsmen showed intent to chase it as the Sri Lankan team could score only 215-8.

The Australian team completed a hat-trick of World Cup wins and became the only team to do so in World Cup history.