ICC World Cup 2019: 10 legends of the game who never won the trophy

Pictures of Clive Lloyd with the World Cup trophy in the Lord’s balcony in 1975, in black and white and not so high resolution, inspired a generation of other superstars around the world. The trophy, in no time, had turned the pinnacle of this sport and we all know the immortal story of a little kid in 1983 who got inspired from Kapil Devils’ heroics and eventually became the god of the sport. For as long as the sport lives, these stories will give birth to superstars who not just make the country proud, but also contribute significantly to popularize the sport. This is a beautiful cycle that is bound to continue and the 2019 edition of the tournament might inspire kids who someday will be lifting the trophy for their country. Well, not all of these inspired kids go on to reach the pinnacle. They do get close, their effort to get there wins hearts of many, but history will never recall them as World Cup winners. Some writers often describe the trophy to be unlucky to not get wrapped in the hands of some cricketers and honestly, it is not completely exaggerated. Here are ten legendary cricketers who represented the side in various editions of cricket’s most elite tournament, but never won the prize, leaving a huge void in their trophy cabinet. 1. Brian Lara Brian Lara. (Photo Source: Twitter) When Sir Vivian Richards spotted a teenage sensation batting in a First-class game, he said that kid will be a legend. Well, that kid didn’t disappoint the great man and went on to become an enigma named Brian Charles Lara. Caribbean cricket had an identity for a long time, they were ruthless, relentless, stubborn and technically not so precise. Lara carried that legacy with poetic brilliance and cricket will forever be thankful for his sensational contribution. Lara played his first World Cup in 1992 and represented the side in five editions overall, captaining the team once in 2007. His best finish with the team was reaching the semifinals in 1996 to the eventual runners Australia. He was one of the lone warriors who never received ample support from his team members. Despite all the glorious tales he inked with his willow, this was a story which never saw a happy ending. 2. Rahul Dravid Rahul Dravid. (Photo credit should read Alessandro Abbonizio/AFP/Getty Images) Rahul Dravid was rightly inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame last year and his contribution can never be summed up with mere poetic words. If ever anyone came close to aptly describe him, it was Harsha Bhogle, who famously termed Dravid as “The wolf who lived for the pack”. He spent a lifetime in the middle holding the ground whilst his teammates kept attacking knowing that there is “Wall” which can never be breached. Rahul Dravid was the highest run-scorer of the tournament in his first ever World Cup in 1999. He later represented the side 2003 where Australia humiliated India in the finals and was, unfortunately, the captain of the 2007 side which produced India’s worst ever World Cup result. Despite all the mountains he scaled, this was one Everest which always remained far from his reach. 3. Sir Richard Hadlee Sir Richard Hadlee. (Photo by Joel Ford/Getty Images for Tourism New Zealand) New Zealand cricket’s greatest figure of all time, Sir Richard Hadlee was one of the game’s most prolific fast bowler in the 80s. He was cricket’s first all-rounder to reach 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in the ODI format and was a part of the Kiwi squad alongside his two brothers Barry and Dayle Hadlee in the first-ever World Cup in 1975. He later represented the side in 1979 and 1983 but could never get close to the trophy. Although he played cricket during a period when ODI cricket was just introduced and not a lot of it was played, he did have a fair shot at winning the ultimate prize. Regardless, he was knighted in 1990 shortly after his retirement for his unforgettable service to the gentleman’s game. 4. Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis. (Photo by Neville Hopwood/Getty Images for Professional Sports Group) They say only one cricketer in the history was close to being perfect and he goes by the name Sir Garfield Sobers. Many all-rounders tried their fortunes to match up with the Caribbean immortal, but they never could. Nevertheless, South Africa produced its own version of a nearly perfect all-rounder in the form of Jacques Kallis who later on become one of the game’s all-time greats. He played his first World Cup in 1996 just months after making his International debut. He represented the Proteas in five World Cups and came agonizingly close to winning it in 1999 and 2007, where they missed out by “skin of the teeth” margins in the semifinals. Despite being a part of some outstanding South African teams, he never could make it to the finals. 5. Kumar Sangakkara Kumar Sangakkara. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) Finer the margin of defeat, deeper the pain it inflicts. It is difficult to be Kumar Sangakkara, having achieved everything possible in his career, but losing two World Cup finals in a row was just devastating. If ever a list is made on the classiest cricketers of all time, he would be right up there among the top five. His cover-drive was a melody, his skill was unparalleled, Sangakkara, on the whole, was a bundle of joy to a cricketing eye. Despite achieving all the huge numbers in his career, the left-handed batsman could never inspire his side to win the greatest trophy. Despite inflicting over 700 dismissals in International cricket and scoring tons of runs for fun, he is remembered as the man who took the bitterest of pills in 2011 final with a smile on his face. 6. Chris Gayle Chris Gayle. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images,) The Universe Boss is the sobriquet he gave to himself, and the world seconded it. Christopher Henry Gayle will go down as one of the greatest entertainers the game has ever witnessed and the perhaps the greatest influencer of the game’s shortest format. He still remains the only batsman in T20 cricket with over 10,000 runs to his name. Gayle will be representing Windies in his fifth and final World Cup, after which he will be retiring from the 50-over format. Despite scoring over 10,000 runs and 25 centuries in this format of the game, he never really had a squad that was good enough to go all the way. He’s the only one in the list who is still active but is highly unlikely to get out of it by winning the trophy. 7. AB de Villiers AB de Villiers of South Africa. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Scientists keep exploring new dimensions which many never thought existed. AB de Villiers was cricket’s Nobel prize-winning scientist, who did some ridiculous stuff with utter ease and mesmerized fans for over a decade. All of that brilliance ended when he hung up his boots in 2018, but the sight of AB de Villiers walking and weeping in distress in Auckland last World Cup will never fade away. It seemed like the script had all the perfect ingredients in the last World Cup for ABD to go and lay hands on the trophy. Yet, they somehow faltered against New Zealand in the semifinals by the closest of margins, leaving yet another heartbreak. Besides 2015, he represented South Africa in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups as well. 8. Sourav Ganguly Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Twitter) A cult figure in Indian cricket, who with his passion and aggression helped the side scale new heights, Sourav Ganguly was one of the game’s greatest servants. The southpaw represented the Men in Blue in three World Cups and captained the side once in 2003, where they got hammered in the finals in the hands of Australia. His career had many ups and downs, but one thing no one can argue about was his prowess to better the oppositions in this format. Just like Sangakkara, he did come close to lifting the trophy but remained a good distance away. He couldn’t captain the team in 2007 and that World Cup produced no good memories for Indian cricket. 9. Mahela Jayawardene Mahela Jayawardene. (Photo: IANS) Technically shrewd, mentally strong and a master of playing the important knocks, Mahela Jayawardene scored over 20,000 runs in International cricket, but the number of times he stood up for the side in important junctures was just fascinating. He captained the side in 2007 where they lost to Australia in a controversial final, after which handed the duties to his partner Kumar Sangakkara. He played arguably one of the finest knocks in cricket history in the 2011 World Cup final, which very unfortunately ended in a losing cause. He stroked home a majestic hundred, which resurrected a half-dead Lankan side to be pumped enough to pose a serious challenge and ensured India had to fight for their trophy. Despite all the fine efforts, he was one of those many cricketers who could never clear the final hurdle. 10. Sir Ian Botham Joe Root speaks with Sir Ian Botham (right). (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) English cricket’s poster boy back in the 1980s, there were very few as enigmatic and dynamic as Sir Ian Botham. The Cheshire born all-rounder directed some of English cricket’s finest triumphs during his playing career, but a World Cup triumph was something he or his team could never materialize. Botham helped the Three Lions reach the finals in his first ever outing in 1979 under the leadership of Mike Brearley. Courtesy his brilliance, England managed to reach the finals in 1987 and 1992, but history repeated itself and he never could lay hands on the trophy. He and Graham Gooch are the only players to be a part of three World Cup final defeats. He called it time to his career after Pakistan defeat the Englishmen to win the World Cup in 1992. [interaction id=”5cdfe868df3c8d130786d3bd”]

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ICC World Cup 2019: 10 legends of the game who never won the trophy

Some writers often describe the trophy to be unlucky to not get wrapped in the hands of some cricketers and honestly, it is not completely exaggerated.

6. Chris Gayle

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