Points Table Toppers during Pool and Group Stages at ICC Cricket World Cup Events

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has organized the Cricket World Cup, the premier international championship of men’s One Day International (ODI) cricket, since 1975. Over the years, the tournament format has evolved, giving us numerous memorable performances by teams in the pool and group stages. In this article, we will take a look at the points table toppers from all ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments held up to 2021.

Early Years (1975-1983):

The first three editions of the tournament featured two groups, each with four teams. England and the West Indies dominated the group stages in the early years. England topped Group A in 1975 and 1979, while the West Indies led Group B in both editions. In the 1983 World Cup, England maintained their form by topping Group A, while the West Indies, reigning champions at the time, topped Group B.

The 1987 and 1992 World Cups:

The 1987 edition of the Cricket World Cup introduced a new format with two groups of four teams each. England continued to showcase their prowess, topping Group A, while Pakistan emerged as the points table leader in Group B. The 1992 World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, featured a round-robin format with all nine teams playing against each other. New Zealand emerged as the points table topper in this edition.

The 1996 and 1999 World Cups:

The 1996 World Cup saw India top Group A, while South Africa led Group B. In the 1999 edition, South Africa emerged as the table topper in Group A, with India taking the lead in Group B. In the Super Six stage of the tournament, Australia claimed the top spot.

The 2003 and 2007 World Cups:

The 2003 World Cup featured two pools with seven teams each. Australia, who would go on to win their third consecutive title, topped Pool A, and Sri Lanka led Pool B. In 2007, the West Indies hosted the event, and it featured a new format with four groups of four teams each, followed by a Super Eight stage. Australia topped Group A, Sri Lanka led Group B, and New Zealand emerged as the points table leader in the Super Eight stage.

The 2011 and 2015 World Cups:

The 2011 World Cup, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, saw two groups of seven teams each. Sri Lanka topped Group A, while India, who would eventually lift the trophy, led Group B. In the 2015 edition, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, New Zealand topped Pool A, and India led Pool B.

The 2019 World Cup:

The 2019 World Cup, held in England and Wales, featured a round-robin format with ten teams. India emerged as the points table topper, showcasing their dominance throughout the group stage.

The 2023 World Cup:

With India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and England in top form, it will be important to see who will top the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table this year. Complete schedule for the ICC Cricket World cup will be announced in June after the conclusion of IPL.

The points table toppers during the pool and group stages at ICC Cricket World Cup events have demonstrated exceptional performances over the years. These teams have showcased their talent, determination, and ability to adapt to various conditions and formats. As the tournament continues to evolve, we eagerly anticipate the teams that will rise to the top in future editions.