The 1979 Cricket World Cup: West Indies Repeat as Champions
The 1979 Cricket World Cup saw the West Indies defend their title with a dominant display in the final against England at Lord's, confirming their status as the world's greatest cricket team.
The 1979 Cricket World Cup — the second Prudential World Cup — was held in England in June 1979, using the same 60-over format and same eight-team structure as 1975. The West Indies again won the tournament, confirming their status as the dominant force in world limited-overs cricket. The 1979 World Cup is best remembered for Vivian Richards' extraordinary 138 not out in the final against England at Lord's — an innings widely considered the greatest in any World Cup final. England were dismissed for 194 chasing 287, and the West Indies retained their title with 92 runs to spare.
Viv Richards' Masterpiece
Vivian Richards' 138* in the 1979 final is often listed among the greatest innings in limited-overs cricket history. He came in at 22/1 and rebuilt the innings with Collis King (86 from 66 balls), whose explosive partnership added 139. When King fell, Richards continued serenely to 138* from 157 balls as the West Indies posted 286/9 from 60 overs. England's chase never threatened — they were bowled out for 194, with Joel Garner taking 5/38 to complete a comprehensive West Indies victory. The combination of Richards' batting and the West Indies pace attack (Garner, Michael Holding, Colin Croft, Andy Roberts) was simply too powerful for any team of that era.
The Excluded South Africa
The 1979 World Cup was notable for the absence of South Africa, who had been banned from international cricket since 1970 due to the apartheid regime's racial segregation policies. South Africa's absence from the 1975 and 1979 World Cups (and all international cricket until 1991-92) shaped the competitive landscape significantly — South Africa had been one of world cricket's strongest teams before isolation, and their return to international cricket transformed the balance of power in the 1990s.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 1979 Cricket World Cup?
The West Indies won the 1979 Cricket World Cup, defeating England by 92 runs in the final at Lord's. Vivian Richards scored 138* and Joel Garner took 5/38 to seal the win.
What was special about Viv Richards' innings in the 1979 final?
Richards' 138* from 157 balls in the 1979 final is widely considered one of the greatest innings in World Cup history. He anchored the West Indies' 286/9 total in a 60-over match against an England attack that included Ian Botham, Mike Hendrick and Chris Old. His innings combined extraordinary elegance with ruthless scoring — a masterclass in big-match batting.
Why was the 1979 format the same as 1975?
The ICC retained the 60-over per side format for 1979 because the 1975 tournament had been a success using that structure. The 50-over format was not adopted until the 1987 World Cup, when co-hosts India and Pakistan found that 60-over matches under floodlights were impractical. The 50-over format has been standard ever since.