World Cup final unsung heroes

MUMBAI: Saturday's World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium is being billed as a clash between Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan, two modern-day masters.

But while some of cricket's greatest names have shone in the showpiece match, the World Cup has also provided a stage where lesser-known names have also sparkled.

Here are some of the World Cup's unlikely heroes.

1975: Gary Gilmour (Australia)

No-one did more than the left-arm swing bowling all-rounder to get Australia into the inaugural World Cup final.

Although not selected for any of the group matches, he produced a devastating return of six wickets for just 14 runs as England were dismissed for 93. When Australia collapsed to 39 for six in reply, he saw them home with an unbeaten 28.

Three days later in the final at Lord's, Gilmour took five for 48 - including the wickets of Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai and Vivian Richards.

But it was not enough to prevent the West Indies winning and six months later Gilmour played his last game of one-day international cricket.

In Image: Gary Gilmour of Australia in action during the World Cup held at Kennington Oval, London, Great Britain during June 1975.

Text: AFP

Images: Getty

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