:World Championship of Cricket

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = Australia

| a_pattern_la = _greenborder

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| a_pattern_ra = _greenborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = FFFE00

| a_body = FFFE00

| a_rightarm = FFFE00

| a_pants = FFFE00

| a_title = Australia Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = England

| a_pattern_la = _blueborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _blueborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = 86D1FD

| a_body = 86D1FD

| a_rightarm = 86D1FD

| a_pants = 86D1FD

| a_title = England Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = India

| a_pattern_la = _yellowborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _yellowborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = 86D1FD

| a_body = 86D1FD

| a_rightarm = 86D1FD

| a_pants = 86D1FD

| a_title = India Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = New Zealand

| a_pattern_la = _blackborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _blackborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = C8AD7F

| a_body = C8AD7F

| a_rightarm = C8AD7F

| a_pants = C8AD7F

| a_title = New Zealand Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = Pakistan

| a_pattern_la = _blueborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _blueborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = 006A4E

| a_body = 006A4E

| a_rightarm = 006A4E

| a_pants = 006A4E

| a_title = Pakistan Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = Sri Lanka

| a_pattern_la = _blueborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _blueborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = FFFE00

| a_body = FFFE00

| a_rightarm = FFFE00

| a_pants = FFFE00

| a_title = Sri Lanka Kit

}}

{{Infobox cricket team

|name = West Indies

| a_pattern_la = _maroonborder

| a_pattern_b =

| a_pattern_ra = _maroonborder

| a_pattern_pants =

| a_leftarm = DCDCDC

| a_body = DCDCDC

| a_rightarm = DCDCDC

| a_pants = DCDCDC

| a_title = West Indies Kit

}}

Each team was required to name a 14-player squad for the tournament. Matches were played with coloured clothing, white balls, fielding restrictions and innings limited to 50 overs.

The seven teams were split into two qualifying groups. Each played a round-robin with two points awarded for a win and one point for a draw or tie. Teams on equal points were separated by run rate.

Cross-over semi finals were then played with the winner from each group playing the runner-up from the other group. The losers played in the Plate Winners Final while the winners contested the Final.

Allan Border (captain), Terry Alderman, Peter Faulkner, Rodney Hogg, Kim Hughes, Dean Jones, Robbie Kerr, Geoff Lawson, Rod McCurdy, Craig McDermott, Simon O'Donnell, Wayne B. Phillips, Kepler Wessels, Graeme Wood.

David Gower (captain), Jonathan Agnew, Norman Cowans, Chris Cowdrey, Paul Downton, Phil Edmonds, Richard Ellison, Neil Foster, Graeme Fowler, Mike Gatting, Allan Lamb, Vic Marks, Martyn Moxon, Tim Robinson.

Sunil Gavaskar (captain), Mohinder Amarnath, Mohammad Azharuddin, Roger Binny, Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra, Manoj Prabhakar, Chetan Sharma, Ravi Shastri, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sadanand Viswanath.

Geoff Howarth (captain), John Bracewell, Lance Cairns, Ewen Chatfield, Jeremy Coney, Jeff Crowe, Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee, Paul McEwan, John Reid, Ian Smith, Martin Snedden, John Wright.

Javed Miandad (captain), Anil Dalpat, Azeem Hafeez, Imran Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Qasim Omar, Rameez Raja, Rashid Khan, Saleem Malik, Tahir Naqqash, Wasim Akram, Wasim Raja, Zaheer Abbas.

Duleep Mendis (captain), Ashantha de Mel, Somachandra de Silva, Roy Dias, Vinothen John, Uvais Karnain, Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga, Rumesh Ratnayake, Ravi Ratnayeke, Amal Silva.

Clive Lloyd (captain), Winston Davis, Jeff Dujon, Joel Garner, Larry Gomes, Roger Harper, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Gus Logie, Malcolm Marshall, Thelston Payne, Viv Richards, Richie Richardson.

The tournament began with Australia and England playing the first ever match under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in front of a crowd of 82,494. Australia won the match by seven wickets, however neither of them would make the semi-finals.

India quickly showed that it was on track to repeat its World Cup success with comfortable wins in each of its group matches, while Pakistan found a new hero in 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram who took 5 for 21 against Australia.

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 17 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ENG}}

| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score1 = 214/8 (49 overs)

| runs1 = Allan Lamb 53 (53)

| wickets1 = Geoff Lawson 3/31 (10 overs)

| score2 = 215/3 (45.2 overs)

| runs2 = Robbie Kerr 87 (126)

| wickets2 = Vic Marks 1/33 (7.2 overs)

| result = Australia won by 7 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65719 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Tony Crafter (Aus) and Ray Isherwood (Aus)

| toss = England won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm = Robbie Kerr (Aus)

| rain =

| notes = This was the first match played under floodlights at this venue. 82,494 people attended. Match reduced to 49 overs due to rain.Wisden 1986, p. 978.

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 20 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| team2 = {{cr|IND}}

| score1 = 183 (49.2 overs)

| runs1 = Qasim Umar 57 (102)

| wickets1 = Roger Binny 4/35 (8.2 overs)

| score2 = 184/4 (45.5 overs)

| runs2 = Mohammad Azharuddin 93* (135)

| wickets2 = Imran Khan 3/27 (10 overs)

| result = India won by 6 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65721 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Peter McConnell (Aus) and Dick French (Aus)

| toss = Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm = Mohammad Azharuddin (Ind)

| rain =

| notes = Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (Ind) made his ODI debut.

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 24 February 1985

| time =

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score1 = 262/6 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Mohsin Khan 81 (109)

| wickets1 = Simon O'Donnell 2/42 (10 overs)

| score2 = 200 (42.3 overs)

| runs2 = Simon O'Donnell 74 (101)

| wickets2 = Wasim Akram 5/21 (8 overs)

| result = Pakistan won by 62 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65723 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Ray Isherwood (Aus) and Mel Johnson (Aus)

| toss = Australia won the toss and elected to field.

| motm = Wasim Akram (Pak)

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 26 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|IND}}

| team2 = {{cr|ENG}}

| score1 = 235/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Kris Srikkanth 57 (53)

| wickets1 = Norman Cowans 3/59 (10 overs)

| score2 = 149 (41.4 overs)

| runs2 = Martyn Moxon 48 (86)

| wickets2 = Ravi Shastri 3/30 (10 overs)

| result = India won by 86 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65724 Scorecard]

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Bruce Martin (Aus) and Dick French (Aus)

| toss = England won the toss and elected to field.

| motm = Kris Srikkanth (Ind)

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 March 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| team2 = {{cr|ENG}}

| score1 = 213/8 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Mudassar Nazar 77 (102)

| wickets1 = Richard Ellison 3/42 (10 overs)

| score2 = 146 (24.2 overs)

| runs2 = Allan Lamb 81 (69)

| wickets2 = Tahir Naqqash 3/24 (4.2 overs)

| result = Pakistan won by 67 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65726 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Ray Isherwood (Aus) and Mel Johnson (Aus)

| toss = Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm = Allan Lamb (Eng)

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 3 March 1985

| time =

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}

| team2 = {{cr|IND}}

| score1 = 163 (49.3 overs)

| runs1 = Wayne Phillips 60 (92)

| wickets1 = Roger Binny 3/27 (7.3 overs)

| score2 = 165/2 (36.1 overs)

| runs2 = Kris Srikkanth 93* (115)

| wickets2 = Terry Alderman 1/38 (8 overs)

| result = India won by 8 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65727 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Tony Crafter (Aus) and Peter McConnell (Aus)

| toss = India won the toss and elected to field.

| motm = Ravi Shastri (Ind)

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

Group B was slightly farcical with West Indies being comfortably the number one team in world cricket at the time and Sri Lanka being comfortably at the bottom of the list of Test nations.

The match between West Indies and New Zealand was rained off which meant that whoever was more successful in beating up on Sri Lanka would top the group. While West Indies easily accounted for Sri Lanka on the scoreboard, fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake forced both Richie Richardson and Larry Gomes to retire with searing bouncers.

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 19 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NZ}}

| team2 = {{cr|WIN}}

| score1 = 57/2 (18.4 overs)

| runs1 = John Reid 22 (30)

| wickets1 = Joel Garner 1/11 (6 overs)

| score2 =

| runs2 =

| wickets2 =

| result = No result

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65720 Scorecard]

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Steve Randell (Aus) and Mel Johnson (Aus)

| toss = New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm =

| rain = No play was possible on the original day due to rain. The reserve day was used - moved from 20 February to 21 February due to a clash in television scheduling - however further rain saw the match end with no result.

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 23 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| night =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NZ}}

| team2 = {{cr|SL}}

| score1 = 223 (49.4 overs)

| runs1 = John Reid 62 (108)

| wickets1 = Vinothen John 3/29 (10 overs)

| score2 = 172 (42.4 overs)

| runs2 = Arjuna Ranatunga 34 (40)

| wickets2 = Jeremy Coney 4/46 (10 overs)

| result = New Zealand won by 51 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65722 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Bruce Martin (Aus) and Peter McConnell (Aus)

| motm = John Reid (NZ)

| toss = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field.

| round =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 27 February 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SL}}

| team2 = {{cr|WIN}}

| score1 = 135/7 (47 overs)

| runs1 = Ravi Ratnayeke 50 (101)

| wickets1 = Viv Richards 3/27 (9 overs)

| score2 = 136/2 (23.1 overs)

| runs2 = Desmond Haynes 36 (50)

| wickets2 = Rumesh Ratnayake 1/29 (7 overs)

| result = West Indies won by 8 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65725 Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Tony Crafter (Aus) and Steve Randell (Aus)

| toss = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm = Ravi Ratnayeke

| rain = Match reduced to 47 overs per side each due to rain.

| notes =

}}

----

After the group stages, the expected outcome was that 1983 World Cup finalists India and West Indies would meet again in the final of the World Championship. India held up their end of the bargain by beating New Zealand in the first semi final, however Pakistan produced the one major upset of the tournament to beat West Indies.

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 5 March 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NZ}}

| team2 = {{cr|IND}}

| score1 = 206 (50 overs)

| runs1 = John Reid 55 (101)

| wickets1 = Madan Lal 4/37 (8 overs)

| score2 = 207/3 (43.3 overs)

| runs2 = Dilip Vengsarkar 63*(59)

| wickets2 = Ewen Chatfield 1/38 (10 overs)

| result = India won by 7 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65728/india-vs-new-zealand-1st-sf-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85 Scorecard]{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65728/india-vs-new-zealand-1st-sf-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85/|title=1st Semifinal, Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket at Sydney, March 5 1985 {{!}} Match Summary {{!}} ESPNCricinfo|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-11-28}}

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Peter McConnell (Aus) and Dick French (Aus)

| toss = India won the toss and elected to field.

| motm = Ravi Shastri

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 6 March 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|WIN}}

| team2 = {{cr|PAK}}

| score1 = 159 (44.3 overs)

| runs1 = Roger Harper 25 (41)

| wickets1 = Mudassar Nazar 5/28 (7.3 overs)

| score2 = 160/3 (46 overs)

| runs2 = Ramiz Raja 60 (88)

| wickets2 = Joel Garner 1/19 (8 overs)

| result = Pakistan won by 7 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65729/pakistan-vs-west-indies-2nd-sf-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85 Scorecard]{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65729/pakistan-vs-west-indies-2nd-sf-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85/|title=2nd Semifinal, Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket at Melbourne, March 6 1985 {{!}} Match Summary {{!}} ESPNCricinfo|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-11-28}}

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Steve Randell (Aus) and Ray Isherwood (Aus)

| toss = West Indies won the toss and elected to bat.

| motm = Mudassar Nazar

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

The third place play-off in this tournament was known as the Plate Winners Final and West Indies were awarded a plate for winning the match. Geoff Howarth was nearing the end of his time as New Zealand captain and New Zealand's upcoming test and ODI tour to West Indies, which commenced later that month, would be his last series for the country. Richard Hadlee began with a spell of 2 for 8 in 6 overs. Viv Richards then hit 51 off 61 deliveries.

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 9 March 1985

| time =

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|NZ}}

| team2 = {{cr|WIN}}

| score1 = 138/9 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Jeremy Coney 35 (76)

| wickets1 = Joel Garner 3/29 (10 overs)

| score2 = 139/4 (37.2 overs)

| runs2 = Viv Richards 51 (61)

| wickets2 = Richard Hadlee 3/23 (10 overs)

| result = West Indies won by 6 wickets

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65730/new-zealand-vs-west-indies-cons-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85 Scorecard]{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8533/scorecard/65730/new-zealand-vs-west-indies-cons-benson-&-hedges-world-championship-of-cricket-1984-85/|title=Consolation Final, Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket at Sydney, March 9 1985 {{!}} Match Summary {{!}} ESPNCricinfo|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|access-date=2020-11-28}}

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Dick French (Aus) and Mel Johnson (Aus)

| toss = West Indies won the toss and elected to field.

| motm = Joel Garner (WI)

| rain =

| notes =

}}

----

{{main|1985 World Championship of Cricket Final}}

India got on top early in the final with Kapil Dev reducing Pakistan to 4 for 33 before Javed Miandad and Imran Khan began a rescue act after both had been controversially given not out having edged deliveries to the wicketkeeper. 19-year-old leg spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan had been a revelation during the tournament and produced another superb spell in the final. Pakistan's eventual total of 9 for 176 constituted a good recovery. It was the first time, in the tournament, that India had failed to bowl out the opposition. India bagged 49 out of a maximum possible 50 wickets in the tournament.

Indian openers Ravi Shastri and Krishnamachari Srikkanth each had wonderful tournaments and their century opening stand did most of the work for their strong batting line-up. Each were rewarded at the end of the match with Srikkanth winning the Player of the Match award and Shastri being named the player of the tournament, or as it was known, the Champion of Champions. He was awarded his prize of an Audi 100 motor car, valued at A$35,000 and immediately drove it around the MCG with his entire team sitting either in or on the car. The attendance of 35,296 in the match was the highest in Australia in a match not involving the home side.{{cite magazine |title= Benson & Hedges Final, Melbourne, March 10, 1985 India vs Pakistan |url= http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?218817 |magazine= Outlook India |access-date= 21 October 2013}}

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 10 March 1985

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| team2 = {{cr|IND}}

| score1 = 176/9 (50 overs)

| score2 = 177/2 (47.1 overs)

| runs1 = Javed Miandad 48 (92)

| wickets1 = Kapil Dev 3/23 (9 overs)

| runs2 = Kris Srikkanth 67 (77)

| wickets2 = Imran Khan 1/28 (10 overs)

| result = India won by 8 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65731.html Scorecard]

| venue= Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Tony Crafter (Aus) and Ray Isherwood (Aus)

| motm = Kris Srikkanth (Ind)

| toss = Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

}}

This was the only instance of the World Championship of Cricket. The Indian team that won the cup was adjudged by Wisden as 'The Indian Team of the Century'.

{{reflist}}

• [http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1984-85/OD_TOURNEYS/WCC/ World Championship of Cricket scorecards on Cricinfo]

{{International cricket tours of Australia}}

Category:International cricket competitions from 1980–81 to 1985

Category:One Day International cricket competitions

Category:1985 in Australian cricket

Category:International cricket competitions in Australia