Toothless lions
Three Aussie warriors go over the hill
25-Nov-2010
Lillee and Thomson: not as frightening as they once were • Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Debut
Abdul Qadir
Qadir bamboozled New Zealand on his one-day debut, taking 4 for 21, and then picked up 5 for 44 against Sri Lanka. For once, England's batsmen assaulted him - he went wicketless for 104 in two games.
Qadir bamboozled New Zealand on his one-day debut, taking 4 for 21, and then picked up 5 for 44 against Sri Lanka. For once, England's batsmen assaulted him - he went wicketless for 104 in two games.
Duds
Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Rod Marsh
They were part of the Australian team that made the final in 1975, but endured a disappointing tournament in 1983 when they did not make the semi-finals. Lillee and Marsh also retired from international cricket a few months later as the highest wicket-taker and most successful wicketkeeper respectively.
They were part of the Australian team that made the final in 1975, but endured a disappointing tournament in 1983 when they did not make the semi-finals. Lillee and Marsh also retired from international cricket a few months later as the highest wicket-taker and most successful wicketkeeper respectively.
Thomson played in only three World Cup matches and was taken for plenty. Injuries had clearly cut his pace down and he clearly was no longer the threat he was in the mid-1970s.
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar had a miserable tournament scoring just 59 runs with a highest of 25. He missed out in every game including the one against Zimbabwe, but the memories of the poor individual showing were erased completely by India's extraordinary triumph in the final over the West Indies.
Sunil Gavaskar had a miserable tournament scoring just 59 runs with a highest of 25. He missed out in every game including the one against Zimbabwe, but the memories of the poor individual showing were erased completely by India's extraordinary triumph in the final over the West Indies.