Birth of the Cricket World Cup

May 23 (CRICKETNMORE) - There have been 422 Tests played in Australia over the last 142 years – only one of them was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Had it not been for that rainfall in Melbo

Five years later in Australia and New Zealand the competition developed further and closely resembled what we see today.

That was when the white ball was used for the first time, while day/night matches, new fielding restrictions and coloured kits were also introduced.

If the 1987 World Cup was a watershed moment, then 1992 was arguably even more revolutionary and a true precursor for today’s game.

More changes have followed, with a variety of formats and teams competing while editions were played in five different continents between 1992 and 2007.

By 2011 the competition returned to Asia as India became the first host to lift the trophy, a feat that was repeated by Australia four years later.

England will be looking to match that this year, as one of just two teams, alongside New Zealand, to have featured in every World Cup without lifting the trophy.

As the World Cup returns to England for the fifth time, it will be a far cry from the tournament held in 1975, and even further from the advent of One-Day Internationals in Melbourne.

Supporters at the time might not have been grateful for that rain in Victoria, but 48 years on it has made an incredible impact.

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ICC Media Release