With the Cricket World Cup 2019 about to get underway, we take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the iconic players to have defined their eras and earned the title of legends in their country.
As we build up to the tournament, we celebrate the legends of past and take a look at the current flag-bearers.
Here, we have picked four players from England who have left their mark on the history books.
Click here for Australia, Pakistan, India and West Indies.
Graham Gooch [1975-1995]
One of the best to never win the World Cup, Graham Gooch was an absolute run machine during his prime. Known mainly for his prolificacy with the bat in tests, Gooch also boasted an enviable record in the World Cup.
He was the leading run-getter in the 1987 edition in which a Mike Gatting-led England performed consistently before perishing against Australia in the finals.
Gooch then took over the captaincy for the next edition and led the Englishmen to a second consecutive final. But Pakistan terminated his hopes of laying hands on the prestigious piece of silverware.
Throughout his career spanning 27 years (including first-class cricket), Gooch amassed 67,057 runs. He is also the second highest run-getter for England in tests, despite sitting out for three of his 20-year long international campaign due to a ban.
1987 World Cup stats
Batting
Matches: 8
Innings: 8
Runs: 471
Average: 58.87
Highest: 115
50s/100s: 3/1
Iconic World Cup innings: 115 v India (Semi-final, 1987)
Gooch and Gatting teamed up to take England from 79/2 to a respectable total of 254 runs. He smashed 115 runs to help his team power through to the finals after a dominating performance against the defending champions.
The innings consisting of 11 boundaries against a top-notch bowling attack is considered one of the best in English World Cup history.
Alec Stewart [1989-2003]
One of the deadliest wicket-keeping batsmen in history, Alex Stewart was the lone warriors in a withering England squad in the 1990s.
Stewart is known for his longevity at the top of the batting order. He was productive in both the longer and shorter formats of the game and performed superbly.
His skill with the bat should take nothing away from the fact that he was excellent behind the stumps. Steward was a dependable keeper who recorded 451 international dismissals.
Unfortunately for him, his career coincided with one of the lowest points in English cricket. Stewart was the captain for the 1999 World Cup when they failed to get past the group stage.
ODI stats
Matches: 170
Innings: 162
Runs: 4677
Average: 31.6
Highest: 116
50s/100s: 28/4
Iconic World Cup innings: 88 against Sri Lanka
Great innings for England at the World Cup during this period were rare. However, Stewart deserves credit for his 88 against Sri Lanka in the team’s first game in the 1999 World Cup.
The performance was in vain as they failed to get past the group stage but it’s worth noting that it was Stewart’s first World Cup game as England captain and he led them to victory against the defending champions.
Kevin Pietersen [2004-2014]
With a tattoo-laden arm, a cheeky smile and an air of confidence – Kevin Pietersen surely knew how to establish himself as the centre of attention. But then, his bat usually justified all of it.
The lanky batsman burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s due to his destructive use of the willow married with great consistency.
Pietersen holds the record for the being the fastest to reach 2000 ODI runs and is behind only Sir Donald Bradman in terms of aggregate runs in the first 25 games.
At his peak, Pietersen was arguably the best batsman of England’s modern era. But the team failed him when it mattered most. He was their saving grace in the 2007 World Cup and ensured that they were not embarrassed like in the two preceding editions.
Pietersen was also extremely explosive in the shortest format of the game and was the Man of the Tournament in the 2010 T20 World Cup, the only ICC trophy in England’s cabinet.
His career was short-lived as multiple run-ins with the board forced him to call quits at the age of just 33.
2007 World Cup stats
Matches: 9
Innings: 9
Runs: 444
Average: 55.50
Highest: 104
50s/100s: 3/2
Iconic World Cup innings: 100 v West Indies (Brian Lara farewell game)
On paper, it was a dead rubber game, with both West Indies and England out of the race for a spot in the semi-final. But for the Windies, it was more than just a game as it was time to bid adieu to Brian Lara, an icon of the sport.
Tasked to chase down a massive total of 300 runs, Pietersen turned up to spoil Lara’s party and hog the limelight. He scored a century in a thriller which England won with one ball to spare.
Although they failed to progress to the semis, this will remain an iconic World Cup game for Pietersen. With his supreme talent and confidence, Pietersen managed to make that game all about him.
Jos Buttler (2012-present)
England are definitely the team to beat this World Cup and Jos Buttler – yet another wicket-keeping batsman on the list – is one of the biggest reasons why.
The hard-hitting Buttler has been part of the core of English cricket ever since they were humiliated at the 2015 World Cup.
Unfortunately for him, he began peaking only after the tournament and failed to provide anything spectacular in his maiden World Cup.
But the astute batsman and will be the player to watch this time, as he looks to help England to their first-ever success at the global showpiece.
Jos Buttler went BIG against Nathan Coulter-Nile in the 27th over! 🔥
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 25, 2019
He brings up a 30-ball fifty in the 29th over before finding Khawaja at midwicket next ball - England 171/4 with 21 overs remaining. https://t.co/cuyCp2LSEm #ENGvAUS #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/QznjCblZeg
ODI STATS
Matches: 130
Innings: 108
Runs: 3531
Average: 41.54
Highest: 150
50s/100s: 18/8
Iconic World Cup innings
Buttler is yet to display an iconic World Cup performance, having only been involved in England’s 2015 group-stage disaster thus far.
