ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2003
2003 · 14 teams · ODI cricket
Tournament Overview
Series Overview
The 2003 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup was hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya in February and March 2003. Fourteen teams competed in what was the largest World Cup to that point, featuring two new Associate nations. Australia entered as the defending champions having won in 1999, and delivered a performance of complete, ruthless excellence — winning every single match across the group stage, Super Six, semi-finals, and the final without a loss. Ricky Ponting was at the peak of his extraordinary powers as a World Cup leader and batter. In the final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg — a famous run-scoring ground — Ponting led Australia's batting with an unbeaten 140 off 121 balls, adding an extraordinary partnership with Damien Martyn (88 not out) to post 359/2 off their 50 overs. India, who had also gone unbeaten to that point with Sachin Tendulkar scoring 673 tournament runs of the highest calibre, were unable to match the target. Their chase fell well short at 234 as Australia's bowling attack — led by Glenn McGrath — was as disciplined as their batting. Australia's third consecutive title, achieved with an unblemished tournament record, represented the pinnacle of ODI cricket dominance. Tendulkar's 673 runs earned him the Player of the Tournament award despite India's defeat — a recognition of his extraordinary contribution throughout the competition.
Key Highlights
- 1Australia won their third consecutive ODI World Cup — a remarkable dynasty that had no parallel in the tournament's history
- 2Ricky Ponting scored a masterful 140* off 121 balls in the final — one of the greatest innings in World Cup history
- 3Sachin Tendulkar was Player of the Tournament with 673 runs — the second highest in World Cup history at the time
- 4Australia went unbeaten throughout the entire tournament — winning every match from group stage to the final
- 5India reached their first World Cup final since 1983, going unbeaten until the final before being bowled out for 234 chasing 360