Chatfield, Gower, Bedi, Border: the notable debuts, farewells and duds of the 1979 World Cup
A poor tournament for India's spinners but a good one for two New Zealander and a Sri Lankan in that team's first World Cup
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Nov-2010
Asif Iqbal: nine wickets and 129 runs in his final one-day tournament • PA Photos
Debuts
Ewen Chatfield
Unlike his Test debut, where he almost lost his life, Chatfield's first ODI was undramatic. In New Zealand's well-fought contest against West Indies, he bowled in tandem with Richard Hadlee, grabbed the wicket of Deryck Murray, conceded 45 in an 11-over spell, and was unbeaten on 3 as his team slid to defeat. It was the only game he played in the tournament.
Unlike his Test debut, where he almost lost his life, Chatfield's first ODI was undramatic. In New Zealand's well-fought contest against West Indies, he bowled in tandem with Richard Hadlee, grabbed the wicket of Deryck Murray, conceded 45 in an 11-over spell, and was unbeaten on 3 as his team slid to defeat. It was the only game he played in the tournament.
Jeremy Coney
Coney went on to represent New Zealand in 88 ODIs but batted just twice in the World Cup in the four games he played. He managed a highest of 36, in the defeat against West Indies but was dismissed for 11 in New Zealand's chase in the semi-final against England. He also took three wickets and three catches in the tournament.
Coney went on to represent New Zealand in 88 ODIs but batted just twice in the World Cup in the four games he played. He managed a highest of 36, in the defeat against West Indies but was dismissed for 11 in New Zealand's chase in the semi-final against England. He also took three wickets and three catches in the tournament.
Roy Dias
In a highly satisfactory first World Cup outing for Sri Lanka, Dias was among the stars. He played just two games, scoring 20 on his debut against New Zealand but followed up with a half-century in a memorable win against India at Old Trafford.
In a highly satisfactory first World Cup outing for Sri Lanka, Dias was among the stars. He played just two games, scoring 20 on his debut against New Zealand but followed up with a half-century in a memorable win against India at Old Trafford.
Farewells
Asif Iqbal
The Pakistan captain bowed out with his head held high. He was among the standout players for his team in the World Cup, scoring 129 runs at an average of 43 and picking up nine wickets at 17.44. The farewell would have been sweeter had Pakistan not fallen short in an enthralling semi-final against West Indies.
The Pakistan captain bowed out with his head held high. He was among the standout players for his team in the World Cup, scoring 129 runs at an average of 43 and picking up nine wickets at 17.44. The farewell would have been sweeter had Pakistan not fallen short in an enthralling semi-final against West Indies.
Bishan Bedi
Bedi played just 10 ODIs and his limited-overs career ended on a disappointing note in a winless World Cup for India and wicketless tournament for one of the country's great spinners. The defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka was his last ODI.
Bedi played just 10 ODIs and his limited-overs career ended on a disappointing note in a winless World Cup for India and wicketless tournament for one of the country's great spinners. The defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka was his last ODI.
Gary Cosier
A better tournament with the ball for the Australia allrounder. Cosier made just six runs in two innings but bagged five wickets in three games at an impressive average of 19. His 3 for 54 against Pakistan came in a losing cause.
A better tournament with the ball for the Australia allrounder. Cosier made just six runs in two innings but bagged five wickets in three games at an impressive average of 19. His 3 for 54 against Pakistan came in a losing cause.
Alan Hurst
Hurst's short ODI career spanning just eight games finished on a satisfactory note. He grabbed seven wickets in three games in the tournament, averaging 17. His signed off on a high, with a five-for against Canada in his final ODI appearance.
Hurst's short ODI career spanning just eight games finished on a satisfactory note. He grabbed seven wickets in three games in the tournament, averaging 17. His signed off on a high, with a five-for against Canada in his final ODI appearance.
Brijesh Patel
Patel had burst onto the ODI scene with a quickfire 82 against England in 1974. A prolific run-getter in India's domestic circuit, Patel signed off from international cricket with knocks of 15, 38 and 10 in India's three defeats in the 1979 World Cup.
Patel had burst onto the ODI scene with a quickfire 82 against England in 1974. A prolific run-getter in India's domestic circuit, Patel signed off from international cricket with knocks of 15, 38 and 10 in India's three defeats in the 1979 World Cup.
Duds
Allan Border
Though he was still in his first year in international cricket, much was expected from Border in his first World Cup. He failed to make a mark, though. With just three games in the league stage before the semi-finals, there was little margin for error. Border only managed a highest of 34 and an average of 19.66. Australia's solitary win in the tournament came against Canada. For a team that had made it to the final of the previous World Cup, the competition in 1979 was a major letdown, and Border witnessed it first hand.
Though he was still in his first year in international cricket, much was expected from Border in his first World Cup. He failed to make a mark, though. With just three games in the league stage before the semi-finals, there was little margin for error. Border only managed a highest of 34 and an average of 19.66. Australia's solitary win in the tournament came against Canada. For a team that had made it to the final of the previous World Cup, the competition in 1979 was a major letdown, and Border witnessed it first hand.
David Gower
Arguably England's best batsman in the 1980s, Gower, however, was a disappointment in the 1979 World Cup despite his country's rather successful campaign. He had arrived on the ODI scene with two centuries and a fifty in his first seven innings, but he only managed a highest of 27 in the tournament, where he averaged 16.66. A duck in the final summed it up.
Arguably England's best batsman in the 1980s, Gower, however, was a disappointment in the 1979 World Cup despite his country's rather successful campaign. He had arrived on the ODI scene with two centuries and a fifty in his first seven innings, but he only managed a highest of 27 in the tournament, where he averaged 16.66. A duck in the final summed it up.
India's spinners
Two of India's famous spin quartet but Bishan Bedi and S Venkataraghavan went wicketless in the tournament that has, to this day, been India's worst World Cup. Both completed their quota of 12 overs in each of the three games they played and conceded more than 100 apiece overall. The six wickets India took were shared between Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath, who went on to stars for the side in the next World Cup.
Two of India's famous spin quartet but Bishan Bedi and S Venkataraghavan went wicketless in the tournament that has, to this day, been India's worst World Cup. Both completed their quota of 12 overs in each of the three games they played and conceded more than 100 apiece overall. The six wickets India took were shared between Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath, who went on to stars for the side in the next World Cup.
Javed Miandad
A run-a-ball 46 against Australia kicked off the tournament on a positive note for Miandad but two consecutive ducks, including one off the first ball in the semi-final against West Indies at The Oval, were deflating for him. His zero against England in a low-scoring game had come in circumstances where Pakistan needed some stability, and he failed again in a similar situation in a far more important fixture in the semi-final, trapped in front by Colin Croft.
A run-a-ball 46 against Australia kicked off the tournament on a positive note for Miandad but two consecutive ducks, including one off the first ball in the semi-final against West Indies at The Oval, were deflating for him. His zero against England in a low-scoring game had come in circumstances where Pakistan needed some stability, and he failed again in a similar situation in a far more important fixture in the semi-final, trapped in front by Colin Croft.