ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2015
2015 · 10 teams · ODI cricket
Tournament Overview
Series Overview
The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015, the first time New Zealand had hosted a World Cup. Fourteen teams competed across both nations, with Australia playing to raucous home crowds throughout. The tournament produced high-scoring, high-quality ODI cricket with the ball having been re-legislated to produce more swing. Australia were dominant from start to finish, and their final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against co-hosts New Zealand drew a crowd of nearly 93,000 — the largest ever for a World Cup final. Mitchell Starc struck first ball of the match, sending New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum back to the pavilion for a golden duck. New Zealand recovered to post 183, but this proved woefully short as Australia's batting swept past the target. James Faulkner contributed both with the ball (3/36) and the bat (36* from 23 balls to finish the chase) in a masterclass of World Cup final cricket. Michael Clarke, playing his last international innings, scored 74 before departing to a standing ovation. Australia won by 7 wickets with 11.4 overs remaining, claiming their fifth 50-over World Cup title. Mitchell Starc's 22 wickets at 10.18 through the tournament remains one of the greatest single-tournament bowling performances in World Cup history.
Key Highlights
- 1Australia won their fifth ODI World Cup, defeating co-hosts New Zealand by 7 wickets in the final at the MCG
- 2Mitchell Starc was Player of the Tournament with 22 wickets at 10.18 — and dismissed Brendon McCullum for 0 with the very first ball of the final
- 3James Faulkner scored 36* from 23 balls and took 3/36 — one of the finest all-round performances in a World Cup final
- 4Michael Clarke played his final international innings, retiring from the sport at the conclusion of the tournament
- 5New Zealand had an unbeaten tournament run through the group stage and semi-finals before losing the final