From zero to hero: Top cricketers who made their mark in ODI World Cups

2. Shaun Tait, 2007

Shaun Tait was known for dominating batters with his blazing pace. With his fast-bowling excellence, he registered some incredible records to his name. Prior to the 2007 World Cup, Tait was handed his ODI debut against England in the 2007 Commonwealth Bank Series.

However, he wasn’t expected to make it to the World Cup team but Brett Lee, who picked up an ankle injury during the New Zealand tour, got ruled out of the tournament, and Tait was selected to strengthen Australia’s pace department in the humongous ODI event in the West Indies.

In the World Cup, Australia played an aggressive brand of cricket and became the champions for the record fourth time. Glenn McGrath took 26 wickets in the tournament and became the highest wicket-taker in the competition. Along with McGrath, youngster Tait also hit the headlines for his fiery bowling.

The right-arm Adelaide-born speedster supported McGrath consistently in the competition and ended up as the joint second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament along with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, with 23 wickets in 11 matches. Tait’s best performance came against South Africa in the semi-final in Gros Islet. Playing the huge game, the paceman came heavily on the Proteas and picked up a four-wicket haul. Riding on his sensational bowling, Australia vanquished South Africa by seven wickets and qualified for the final.