Sydney: Highs and lows of the cricket World Cup ahead of the 2015 edition which takes place in Australia and New Zealand from February 14-March 29:

1975 Hosts: England, Champions: West Indies

- Australia had to bank on Gary Gilmour's all-round performance (6-14 and 28 not out) to beat England in the semi-finals. Left-arm fast bowler Gilmour became the first player to grab six wickets in a one-dayer as England were dismissed for 93 on a seaming Leeds track.

The final will be remembered for West Indies captain Clive Lloyd's 102 off 85 balls against Australia and for Viv Richards's brilliant piece of fielding which led to three of the five run-outs.

The West Indies posted 291-8 off 60 overs despite a five-wicket effort from Gilmour before Australia lost by 17 runs.

1979 Hosts: England, Champions: West Indies

- Australia shed much of their strength after TV tycoon Kerry Packer rocked the establishment by luring top players to his World Series Cricket in 1977.

The only surprise was Sri Lanka's victory over India in a group match which was to help them gain Test status in early 1980s.

In the final at Lord's, the West Indies were in trouble at 99-4 after being put in to bat by England skipper Mike Brearley, but found saviours in Viv Richards and Collis King who put on 139 for the fifth wicket.

King smashed 86 off 66 balls with three sixes and 10 fours. Richards cracked three sixes and 11 fours in his 157-ball 138 not out to set a 287-run target.

England's tactics left a lot to be desired -- openers Geoff Boycott and Brearley put on 129, but consumed more than half of the stipulated overs. The hosts lost by 92 runs.

1983 Hosts: England, Champions: India

- West Indies were favourites while India were outsiders having won just one match -- against a lowly East Africa in 1975 -- in the previous two tournaments.

The tournament began on a sensational note, with India shocking the West Indies in a group match at Old Trafford and minnows Zimbabwe upsetting Australia.

India faced many anxious moments -- they were 17-5 against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells when Kapil Dev blazed 175 not out with the help of six sixes and 16 fours to help his team post a competitive 266-8. Zimbabwe eventually lost the match by 31 runs.

In the final, India managed only 183 against a formidable pace attack of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall.

If there were was one moment that swung the final India's way, it was Dev's catch to account for Richards.

Richards mis-hooked a Madan Lal bouncer for Dev, who ran back towards mid- wicket to hold the ball and change the course of the match. West Indies were all out for 140 to hand India a 43-run victory.

1987 Hosts: India and Pakistan, Champions: Australia

- It was not the tournament for the hosts who had left the party in the semi-finals, leaving millions of fans in India and Pakistan disappointed.

Australian paceman Craig McDermott stopped Pakistan with a five-wicket haul to lead his team to victory at Lahore. He was also the tournament's most successful bowler with 18 wickets.

India were in the mourning the following day at Mumbai when England's Graham Gooch swept the hosts' spinners on way to a superb century which led to his team's win in the other semi-final.

In the final in front of 70,000 spectators at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata,Australia rode on David Boon's 75 to post 253-5 and England were strongly placed at 135-2 in reply before disaster struck.

Mike Gatting (41) attempted a reverse-sweep off his counterpart Allan Border, an occasional left-arm spinner, only to give wicket-keeper Greg Dyer a simple catch and England fell short by seven runs.

1992 Hosts: Australia and New Zealand, Champions: Pakistan

- South Africa would have have contested the final on their maiden appearance after more than two decades of isolation due to apartheid if it were possible to score 21 off one ball.

Rain halted South Africa's chase when they needed 22 to win off 13 balls against England in the semi-finals. The target was revised to a ridiculous 21 off just one ball when the game resumed. South Africa had no option but to accept their fate.

In the MCG final, skipper Imran Khan led from the front against England,top-scoring with 72 to help his side post 249-6. Javed Miandad (58), Inzamam (42) and Wasim Akram (33) also chipped in useful runs. England were all out for 227.