Talha Jubair became the youngest player to participate in Cricket World Cup.[1]Sri Lanka's clinical demolition of Canada for 36 runs created a new World Cup record for the lowest innings score, a dubious distinction that was, at the time, the lowest score in ODI history. Records tumbled when defending champions Australia took on minnows Namibia, with Glenn McGrath claiming the World Cup's best bowling figures (7/15), a performance that helped Australia defeat Namibia by 256 runs. Team-mate Adam Gilchrist created a new wicket-keeping dismissal record in the same match, with 6. Against Namibia, Indian players Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly recorded the second highest partnership in World Cup cricket (244 runs). India and Australia clashed in a one-sided battle in the final, with Australia creating multiple records (highest World Cup final score, highest score by a captain in a World Cup final – Ricky Ponting, most sixes by a batsman – Ponting) in a match; with Australia winning by 125 runs. Tendulkar's 673 runs, the most runs scored in a single World Cup history to date, was the consolation for India as he won the 2003 Cricket World Cup Man of the Series award. The World Cup also saw fielding records in an innings (Mohammad Kaif) and tournament (Ponting). The World Cup broke the record for most sixes in the tournament (with 266), but this was easily surpassed in the 2007 edition (with 373).[2]
Highest score by a team in World Cup final – Australia[11]
Highest score by an individual in World Cup final – Ricky Ponting[11] (since bettered by Adam Gilchrist in the finals against Sri Lanka in the 2007 Cricket World Cup)
Highest score by a captain in World Cup final – Ricky Ponting[11]
Most sixes in a single World Cup innings – 8, by Ricky Ponting (Australia, since equalled by Imran Nazir and Adam Gilchrist)
Most wicketkeeping dismissals in a single World Cup – 21, by Adam Gilchrist (Australia)[13]
Most fielder catches in a single World Cup – 11, by Ricky Ponting (Australia)[14]
Team totals[]
Highest team totals[]
The highest score of the 2003 Cricket World Cup came in the finals when Australia scored 359 runs against India in 50 overs. This represents the highest score made in the finals of Cricket World Cup.[11]
Canada were bowled out for the lowest ever total in World Cup history against Sri Lanka;[4] which was also, at the time, the lowest ever total in ODI history.
Vaas's haul of 23 wickets in the tournament was, at the time, the record in World Cup history. His record was equalled or bettered by three bowlers in the 2007 edition of the World Cup (Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan and Shaun Tait).
Note: Only top 10 players shown. Sorted by wickets then bowling average.
The 2003 Cricket World Cup had four cricketers scoring over 400 runs in the tournament (two Indians and two Australians), a record that has been bettered when ten cricketers scored more than 400 runs in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Sachin's 673 runs in the 2003 Cricket World Cup is the current record for most runs scored in a single edition in World Cup history.[12]
There were 25 century partnerships in the tournament, in comparison to 28 century partnerships in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.[16] The top ten partnerships have been listed below. The 244 run partnership between Ganguly and Tendulkar is currently the second highest partnership in World Cup history.[17]
After the tied semifinal match in the 1999 Cricket World cup that eliminated them[18] South Africa were held to another tie when they scored 229 in 45 overs, needing 230 to win by the Duckworth–Lewis method, against Sri Lanka.[19] South Africa needed a win to progress to the "Super-6" stage, but were ultimately eliminated from the tournament.[20]
Sri Lanka 268–9 (50 overs), South Africa 229/6 (45 overs)[n 12]
Durban
03-03-2003
Notes[]
^The first three World Cup tournaments in 1975, 1979 and 1983 featured matches with each innings consisting of 60 overs (360 balls). In the subsequent tournaments – since 1987, each innings consists of a maximum of 50 overs (300 balls). The record for the largest victory margin is 277 balls by England against Kenya in the 1979 Cricket World Cup, but the same was achieved in 60 over match. England took 13.5 overs (83 balls) to overhaul the Canadian score but Sri Lanka took just 4.4 overs (28 balls).