Almanac Book (Preview): ‘Cricket World Cup’ by Liam Hauser

 

Liam Hauser is an Almanac supporter from way back. He is a sports reporter currently based in Gunnedah with The Gunnedah Times. Liam has over a dozen publications on his resumé with cricket and rugby league his particular areas of expertise. The Footy Almanac is happy to support Liam on the release of his latest volume, Cricket World Cup, which was released this week. We invited him to provide us with a background to his new book.

 

 

 

Cricket World Cup
by Liam Hauser
Gelding Street Press, 2025
RRP $49.99

 

The World Cup has become a vital part of the cricketing landscape, even if it is not steeped in the history or tradition of the Ashes. Additionally, with limited overs cricket not classified as first-class cricket, the World Cup concept does not carry the same prestige as Test cricket. But with plenty of drama, tension, exciting passages of play, iconic moments and unforgettable individual displays, World Cup cricket has nonetheless generated enormous interest across the globe. With many cricketing nations coming together, the possibility of becoming the world champion is surely enticing for any competing nation.

It is not necessarily well known that there was a failed attempt at a multi-nation Test competition all the way back in 1912, some 51 years before limited overs cricket was established at domestic level in England. But after the first limited overs international gained traction of sorts in 1971, it was clear that cricket would enter another phase. While the limited overs format may have been an alternative to first-class cricket, it has become a wholly separate spectacle with a different appeal.

World Cup cricket has undergone numerous transformations since the inaugural 1975 one-day international (ODI) tournament, including being reduced from 60 to 50 overs per side. Changing from white to coloured uniforms has been another distinct change, along with changing from the red ball to the white ball. A separate T20 World Cup has also become part of the scene, while the women’s game has also had its own World Cup tournaments.

Whereas Test matches have been much more time-consuming than limited overs fixtures due to two innings per team rather than one, the faster and more energetic rhythm of limited overs fixtures has captured fans worldwide. Faster scoring, riskier strokeplay, managing field placings according to fielding restrictions, being reactive and proactive, tactical thinking, and managing bowling rotations have been among the key elements of limited overs cricket.

Limited overs cricket featured 60 overs per side for the first three World Cup cricket events, before 50 overs became the norm. This competition has generally been staged every four years, before the introduction of the T20 World Cup resulted in a separate World Cup cricket event. Interestingly, a run rate of around four to four-and-a-half runs per over was often enough to produce a competitive – often winning – total, before an increase in urgency and tempo resulted in the demand for much higher run rates. A total of 230 in 50 overs was once considered strong, before becoming generally feeble. Conceding five runs per over in a 50-over per side match was once considered expensive, before it became quite respectable.

The release of this book marks 50 years since the start of World Cup cricket. I’ve been fortunate to be offered the opportunity to undertake this project, in light of my previous publications which focus on Test cricket. While there have been countless books with Test cricket themes for decades, the same cannot be said for ODI fixtures. Many years ago, I was told by someone in the publishing scene that the reason for the scarcity of books about ODIs is ‘people don’t remember them like Tests’. I’m pleased to say the World Cup is an exception to this.

Cricket World Cup traces the first 50 years of World Cup cricket, with many stories, descriptions, highlights and photos to capture the essence of each tournament. Each chapter contains an introductory summary, followed by match reports of some of the great contests. Standout individual performances are also included, along with the achievements of the player of the tournament. Each ODI chapter includes a ‘headline moment’ and also detailed reports of the semi-finals and final.

Whether the ODI and T20 formats remain or whether other formats are introduced, there’s no denying that World Cup cricket has generated mass appeal.

 

To read more by Liam Hauser click HERE.

 

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