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A brief history of the Cricket World Cup – By Simon Burnton Source: The Guardian From its humble beginning in 1966, the tournament’s history is filled with English despair and southern hemisphere triumph Rod Marsh dives in front of first slip to dismiss Tony Greig during the World Cup match between Australian and England at Headingley in 1975. Photograph: Patrick Eagar via Getty Images 1966 In March 1966 Rothman’s and the influential agent Bagenal Harvey announce that a three-game “World Cup” will be held in September, to be contested by England, West Indies – that summer’s tourists – and an all-star Rest of the World XI to be led by the Australia captain, Bobby Simpson, with the remainder of the team chosen – obviously – by readers of the Radio Times. Sadly England’s capacity for World Cup fever is exhausted by the football version, and the three matches attract a combined audience ...