List of Cricket World Cup records

This article lists records for the Cricket World Cup.^[1] The Cricket World Cup has occurred every 4 years since its first edition in 1975 in England, although the number of teams and number of matches have increased since then and more runs are commonly scored in the modern editions of the tournament.

Notation

Team Notation

(300-3) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets and the innings was closed, either due to a successful run chase or if no overs remained (or are able) to be bowled.
(300) indicates that a team scored 300 runs and was all out, either by losing all ten wickets or by having one or more batsmen unable to bat and losing the remaining wickets.

Batting Notation

(100) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was out.
(100*) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was not out.

Bowling Notation

(5-100) indicates that a bowler has captured 5 wickets while giving away 100 runs.

Currently playing

Record holders who are currently playing ODIs or streaks that are still active and can change have an asterisk (*) next to their name.

Terminology

Some particular cricket statistical terms which have importance in this page and given and defined below. For those unfamiliar with the sport, the basic rules are covered in Laws of cricket:

Average (batting): A measure of consistency in a batsman. Calculated by dividing runs scored by number of times dismissed. A higher average is considered more efficient.

Average (bowling): A measure of consistency in a bowler. Calculated by dividing runs allowed by number of dismissals achieved. A lower average is considered more efficient.

Boundary: A term used to describe the instance when a batsman hits the ball past the contraints of the outfield in cricket. If the ball bounced before passing the boundary, it is awarded four runs and called a four, if it did not bounce it is awarded six runs and called a six.

Century: A term used to describe the instance when a batsman scored 100 runs in one innings. When a batsman scored 50 runs, it is simply known as a "half-century" or a "fifty".

Duck: A term used to describe the instance when a batsman scored 0 runs in one innings.

Economy rate: A measure of how economical a bowler is being. It is measured by dividing the number of runs conceded by the number of overs bowled. The number of wickets achieved does not affect the economy rate.

Extra: Also known as sundry, it is used to categorize wides, no balls, byes and leg byes. In all of these cases, runs are given without the batsman hitting the ball and are thus considered "free runs".

Partnership: A term used to describe the combination of two batsmen scoring runs together over any period of time. A high partnership is one in which the two batsmen scored a large amount of runs before either of them were dismissed.

Strike rate (batting): A measure of the speed at which a batsman scores their runs. Calculated by dividing runs scored by number of balls faced and multiplying by 100 to provide a percentage.

Strike rate (bowling): A measure of the rate at which a bowler gets wickets. Calculated by dividing balls bowled with the number of wickets achieved. Thus, a lower strike rate is considered more efficient.

Win %: Calculated by number of wins divided by number of matches and multiplied by 100 to provide a percentage.

Team

Overall

The record for lowest scores are considered infamous and are mainly achieved by weaker sides against stronger teams. This trend continues in many records, including that of highest scores and highest winning margins.

Team Overall
Record	First		Second
Highest score	India v Bermuda	413-5	Sri Lanka v Kenya	398-5
Lowest score	Canada v Sri Lanka	36	Namibia v Australia	45
Highest successful run chase	Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe	313-7	Australia v New Zealand	289-4
Highest winning margin (runs)	India v Bermuda	257	Australia v Namibia	256
Lowest winning margin (runs)	Australia v India	1	Australia v India	1
Highest Win %	Australia	68.96%	West Indies	65.95%
Most Wins	Australia	40*	West Indies India England	33*
Most Losses	Zimbabwe	31*	Sri Lanka	27*

One of the biggest wins, that of England in 1975, was a particularly infamous match in World Cup history for the fact that the Indian team surrendered themselves to a target which they deemed impossible to achieve, although in modern times such targets would be competitive yet not impossible. In this match, India batted out 60 overs to score 132-3 in response to England's 334. Sunil Gavaskar was reprimanded for his performance, as he scored only 36 runs but batted out the whole 60 overs.^[2]

Both of the closest wins in cricket occurred between Australia and India. However, there were also three tied matches in World Cups. The first was in the 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final, if it were not for a run out in the final over with only one run required, South Africa would have advanced to the final instead of Australia. However, as the match was tied, Australia advanced to the finals per their previous head-to-head record against South Africa.^[3] The second tied match, in the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, was a case in which the Duckworth-Lewis method caused a South African loss against Sri Lanka. With the onset of rain, the South African batsmen achieved the score they believed was required to win the match and then blocked out the last ball of the over to avoid losing wickets, however, the score they believed indicated a win actually indicated the score required to tie the match. This tie meant South Africa could not advance to the Super Sixes stage.^[4] The third tie happened in a group match between Ireland and Zimbabwe at Kingston in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.^[5]

In 2007, South Africa scored 353/3 in a rain shortened match against the Netherlands. Their effort came from just shortened game of 40 overs, but if the match had been played over full 50 overs, the record held by Sri Lanka v Kenya could have been broken. The record was broken anyway, a few days later in the 12th match of the 2007 World Cup, with India smashing 413 runs against Bermuda. India entered the match with considerable pressure, having lost to Bangladesh in their first match, and they responded accordingly, also tying the record for most sixes (18) in a match, with South Africa from the aforementioned SA vs Netherlands match.

One tournament

Team - One tournament
Record	First			Second
Highest Win %	Australia	100%	2003	West Indies	100%	1975

These two tournaments were held in periods where the respective winners were dominant in World cricket. Australia, however, won more World Cup matches without defeat due to the expansion of the tournament to take up more time and include more teams.

Streaks

The two teams which have won two World Cups in a row (Australia and the West Indies) have generally done so because they were a dominant force in cricket in their particular eras. These teams have dominated World Cups by achieving consecutive victories. Weaker sides have sometimes struggled to achieve even one victory and have made consecutive defeats.

Team Streaks
Record	First			Second
Most consecutive wins	Australia	13*	1999 - 2007	West Indies	9	1975 - 1979
Most consecutive defeats	Zimbabwe	18	1983 - 1992	The Netherlands	12	1996 - 2007

It should be noted that Australia's title of most consecutive wins would have been extended to 18 if it weren't for a tied match in the semi-final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup against South Africa.

The title of most consecutive defeats are mostly held by ICC associate members (the second rung of international cricket). Out of the teams that are currently full test cricketing nations, Sri Lanka have suffered the most consecutive defeats, with 7 defeats in a row between the 1983 and 1987 World Cups, although they were admittedly associates at the time.