At the 1999 World Cup, Lance Klusener became one of cricket's great individual stories — 281 runs at an average of 140.50 and a strike rate of 122, plus 17 wickets at 20.58. He won four Player of the Match awards in nine matches. Yet South Africa exited at the semi-final stage in the famous Edgbaston tied semi.
Klusener had played 36 ODIs before the 1999 World Cup but was not a guaranteed starter. South African coach Bob Woolmer's tactical brilliance was to slot him at No. 7 with carte blanche to attack from ball one. The role suited Klusener perfectly — left-hander, big bat, no fear.
South Africa entered the World Cup as joint favourites with Australia. Hansie Cronje captained; Allan Donald led the attack. The campaign was excellent throughout — only Australia (Headingley Super Six) beat them before the semi-final tie.
Klusener — a left-handed Natal-born all-rounder built like a fast bowler — had been a fringe South African player before 1999. The World Cup in England transformed him. His batting at No. 7 with the heavy SS Jumbo bat broke the death-overs paradigm: he calmly walked out in the final ten overs and hammered medium-pacers and quicks alike over mid-on. His four Player of the Match awards came from rescue acts and finishing thrusts: 52 not out off 45 vs Sri Lanka; 48 not out off 40 vs England; 46 not out off 41 vs Pakistan; 36 not out off 21 vs New Zealand. South Africa won six of nine games. The Super Six match against Australia at Headingley was the only loss before the semi-final tie. At Edgbaston in the semi, Klusener walked in with South Africa needing 9 off 6 against Australia. He hit 31 off 14, brought the chase down to 1 needed off 4 — and then ran out Allan Donald in the most famous mix-up in cricket history. The match was tied; Australia went through on net run rate. Klusener was Player of the Tournament.
vs Sri Lanka, Northampton: 52 not out off 45 — Player of the Match
vs England, Oval: 48 not out off 40 — Player of the Match
vs Pakistan, Trent Bridge: 46 not out off 41 — Player of the Match
vs New Zealand, Edgbaston Super Six: 36 not out off 21 — Player of the Match
Super Six vs Australia, Headingley: South Africa lose to Steve Waugh's 120*
Edgbaston semi-final: tied; Klusener-Donald run out finishes the chase
May-June 1999
South Africa win 6 of first 8 matches; Klusener wins four Player of the Match awards.
June 13, 1999 — Headingley
South Africa lose to Australia by 5 wickets — first defeat.
June 17, 1999 — Edgbaston
Semi-final tied; South Africa eliminated on NRR.
Tournament end
Klusener Player of the Tournament.
“Just go in and hit it. That was the entire briefing.”
“Statistically the greatest tournament an individual has ever had in white-ball cricket.”
Klusener won Player of the Tournament. South Africa exited at the semi-final stage. Klusener's career never quite reached the same pinnacle — he played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs, retiring in 2004. Lance later said the Edgbaston tie 'still keeps me up at night'.
The most dominant individual all-round World Cup performance ever. Statistically Klusener's 1999 was the greatest single-tournament one-day performance any player has produced.
Klusener's 1999 tournament is the benchmark for an individual all-round World Cup performance. Heads of statistics still quote his average of 140.50 and the four Player of the Match awards. The role he played — late-order finisher with carte blanche — became standard in modern white-ball cricket.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.