We have seen and have heard the prodigies of Tendulkar, Ponting, Clive Lloyd or Wasim Akram in the World Cup but there is a questionable doubt whether we have given due credit to contemporaries like Neil Johnson, Mike Veletta or Collis King whose heroics have been rarely praised or acknowledged.
The World Cup has always been vertex of a cricketing career. It has staged, produced and defined the legends of the gentlemen’s game who have left everlasting memories in our hearts. But concealed by the bigger names are a group of unsung heroes, whose valiant efforts at the ultimate fiesta have mostly gone unheard of or merely forgotten.
This World Cup Special will highlight some of those individuals whose services rendered towards their respective teams have been scarcely cognized and deserves more merits and accolades.
Neil Johnson (Zimbabwe)
Neil Johnson had a short ODI career, but he was one of those who held the rare distinction of opening both batting and bowling for their team. Playing in his solitary World Cup in 1999, Johnson was a key figure in Zimbabwe’s impressive campaign. He won three ‘Man of the Match’ awards during the tournament while his splendid all round performances against challenging opponents stands out.
When Zimbabwe made 233/6 against South Africa at Chelmsford, Johnson opened with a gutsy 76. Johnson who played for South Africa A before defecting back to Zimbabwe, dismissed Kirsten in the opening delivery following a splendid catch by Whittall. Gibbs was run out while Kallis was caught for a duck before Johnson sent back Cronje with a yorker. He ended up with 3 for 27 as the Proteas were bowled out for 185, giving Zimbabwe a memorable 48-run victory.
Johnson’s fine century at Lord’s against Australia went in vain after their mammoth run-chase fell short by 44 runs. His imposing 132 was made against the strong bowling attack of McGrath, Warne, Fleming and Reiffel. Johnson in his only World Cup appearance scored 367 runs (avg 52.42) in 8 innings and took 12 wickets (avg 19.41). The adroit all-rounder retired from international cricket a year later.
Asanka Gurusinha (Sri Lanka)
When Sri Lankans remember 1996 for Aravinda or Jayasuriya, there was Gurusinha’s vital role at number 3 that is less spoken of. Fondly known as ‘Gura’, he would appear after the damage that was already inflicted by Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana’s salvos. When the openers were given the freedom to wave their willows, Gura was given the responsibility to create the solid foundation for the middle order, which he did with sheer precision. This ‘flat-batting sensation’ featured 11 sixes for the tournament, where even Jayasuriya dispatched only 8. Gura’s explosives saw him seizing 84 runs during their record-breaking encounter against Kenya at Asgiriya. Along with and 183-run stand with Aravinda de Silva, his fireworks piled up the misery for the Kenyans. One of Gurusinnha’s mammoth sixes traveled to the surrounding hills as the lost ball had to be replaced.
During the final pursuit, Gura came in at a point when the pinch-hitting duo had perished early, to score a priceless 65 runs in a vital 125-run partnership with Aravinda de Silva to seal the Sri Lankan glory in a historic night at Lahore. Unknown to many, Gurusinha ended the campaign as the second highest run-getter for the champions with 307 runs at an impressive average of 51.16 that included 3 half centuries.
Mohinder Amarnath (India)
‘Jimmy’ was their ace in the hole. In a tale that defied the odds, Kapil Dev’s talented outfit featured its silent hero, and his deputy Amarnath. In the 1983 semi-finals, he dismissed David Gower and Mike Gatting, conceding just 27 runs in his 12 overs before scoring 46 with the bat.
During the final against West Indies, Amarnath took control after Srikkanth’s departure, scoring a placid 26 runs against the brutal pace attack, taking India to a modest 183. In reply, when the Windies were 76/6, the match was facing a new side as Jeff Dujon’s resurgence was rattled by Amarnath, who further claimed Marshall for 18. West Indies were bowled out for 140 while he bagged 3 for 12. Mohinder Amarnath played an important role in their winning campaign, scoring 237 runs and taking 8 wickets, earning ‘Man of the Match’ awards in both the semi-final and final.
Collis King (West Indies)
When the final of 1979 is best remembered for ‘King Viv’s century, there remained another ‘King’ at the other end who blasted 86 in just 66 deliveries in a ruthless 139-run stand in just 21 overs. Vivian Richards was running out of partners when Collis King arrived at the crease with Windies tottering at 99/4. King launched his ballistics as he pummeled 10 fours and 3 maximums, mesmerizing the clamorous crowd at Lord’s. King departed while Viv went on to score his sparkling 138 in a subsequent victory. The Windies triumphed; ‘Viv’ became their hero while Collis went unheard of.
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
In a decisive semi-final dominated by the Kiwis, Pakistan were impeded at 140/4. The requirement of 120 in 15 overs was considered an arduous task at a time where T20 did not exist when a 22-year old youngster from Multan walked into the middle to turn the game. The ‘slim’ Inzamam slammed 60 which came in 37 deliveries shattering hopes of the home fans, taking Pakistan to safety. Martin Crowe and his men were left speechless as Inzi s strokes reached the Auckland ropes at ease, taking them to their first World Cup final after three previous semi-final appearances.
Inzamam repeated his feat in the final at MCG when he scored a vital quick-fire 42 off 35 balls, to take them to a competitive total of 249/6 in an eventual World Cup win.
Mike Veletta (Australia)
The 1987 final is perhaps best remembered for Gatting’s fatal reverse sweep or for Boon’s stable 75 but what Mike Veletta did on that day at Eden Gardens will be an unrecalled memory. He played a mere 20 ODIs and among them was this classic by the forgotten hero. His cameo of an unbeaten 45 in 31 balls proved crucial in a game which Australia later won by a narrow margin of 7 runs.
Following his 48 runs in the semi-final, Veletta came in when Australia were 168/4 immediately after Boon’s departure. Veletta joined Border to add 73 runs before he remained till the end with Steve Waugh to take them to a decent 253/5. Later in England’s innings, the notable highlight came when Gatting’s ineffective reverse sweep found the gloves of Greg Dyer, not only costing the game but also burying Veletta’s apogee of that grand showdown.
Deryck Murray (West Indies)
He was a part of the West Indian domination in both 1975 and 1979 and was the shaded deputy to the unwavering figure of Clive Lloyd. His unruffled glovemanship stood behind the wickets to the heinous pace attack they boasted. During the 1975 edition, Murray claimed 9 victims that included 4 against Sri Lanka at Manchester. He contributed to the dismissals of Ranjit Fernando, Bandula Warnapura and Anura Tennakoon off Bernard Julien and Keith Boyce’s bowling which saw the Lankans crumbling for 86 runs. He followed with 7 more in 1979.
Against Pakistan in 1975, Murray partnered Roberts with his bat to add 64 for the final wicket in an epic run-chase to see them home with a mere one wicket to spare. The two-time World Cup winner will always remain a forgotten figure who stood strong behind the stumps to a brutal attack which every batsman feared.
Michael Bevan (Australia)
He was one of the finest late middle order batsmen the game has ever seen. Often veiled by the top order heroes of Australia, he always delivered the goods when it mattered. In the 1996 semi-final, along with Law, Bevan recovered Australia from 15/4 to post 207/8 in the end with his 69. In the final, Bevan’s unbeaten 36 took Australia to 241 after a falter in the middle. In the 1999 tournament, he made 264 runs (avg 52.80), 65 of which were collected in the semi-final that took Australia to a modest 213 against South Africa.
Against England in 2003, Bevan scored an unbeaten 74 while adding 70 runs with Bichel for the 9th wicket to seal a win for Australia. He made 56 against New Zealand when they were struggling at 84/7 to see them home, once again with Bichel.
Brad Hogg (Australia)
Hogg was brought in the absence of Shane Warne in 2003 but none would have thought that Hogg would take more wickets than Warne. He claimed 13 scalps in 2003 which was followed up by 21 (avg 15.8) in 2007. His left-arm chinaman has produced two 4-wicket hauls, both in 2007 against Netherlands and New Zealand. After playing in just two World Cups, Hogg ended second in the spin bowling wickets list only to Murali. His 34 wickets in 20 innings came at an average of 19.23, the near perfect replacement for a master like Shane Warne.
Craig McDermott (Australia)
In a career prone by injuries, ‘Billy’ was a sudden shock in 1987 when the 22 year old took 18 wickets (avg 18.94) in 8 matches becoming the highest wicket taker in the tournament. He took 4 for 56 against India at Madras in a game which Australia won by one run. Billy unveiled the curtains for a collapse when India were cruising at 200/2 removing Sidhu with his pace while later he sent Vengsarkar, Azharuddin and Shastri back to the pavilion. During the semi-final against Pakistan he swept the tail with his accuracy, taking 5 for 44.
Gary Gilmour (Australia)
The 23-year old left-arm seamer did not cause damage until the semi-final against England in 1975. Heeded by the threat of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, the English were tricked by the sudden inclusion of Gary Gilmour who had never played a game before in the tournament. He exploited ideal conditions of a stiff breeze and a grassy wicket, to record the best bowling performance of the tournament. England were bowled out for 93 runs as Gilmour hauled 6 wickets for 14 runs. When the Australians were struggling at 39/6, Gilmour stepped up again, this time with the willow to nudge them through to the finals.
Gilmour took 5 for 48 during the finals against West Indies becoming the first to take a 5-wicket haul in a World Cup final. The paceman ended as the highest wicket taker with 11 wickets at an average of 5.63, with an economy rate of 2.58 and a strike rate of just 13.
Damien Fleming (Australia)
He was Australia’s ‘last over specialist’ in 1996 &1999. When Australia beat India at Mumbai in 1996, Fleming dismantled the Indian top order forcing Tendulkar to fight his lone innings before taking 5 for 36. In the semi-final thriller at Mohali, he bowled the last over to edge past the Windies to the final. Keeping the pormise, he repeated the same feat in 1999, bowling the final over against South Africa. After his first two deliveries were rocketed to the boundary by Klusener, Fleming stood calm to force the run-out in a dramatic tie. In two World Cups, Fleming took 26 wickets but most of all, was the unsung hero of two thrilling encounters and a champion team.
Today, most of their gallantry has been obscured and represented by a scant digit on a scorecard but their endeavours on the grandest stage upholds the due credit, praise and admiration they richly warrant.
