By the numbers: 40 years of World Cups

The Cricket World Cup is on the go in Australia and New Zealand, with the first tournament being played in 1975, and many a statistic has been accumulated over the past 40 years. Here are some nifty stats to ponder.

46 – Most World Cup matches by one player. Australia's Ricky Ponting played in five tournaments, reached four finals and won the event three times, including twice as captain.

52 – Most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in World Cups. Australia's Adam Gilchrist played in 31 World Cup matches, spanning over three tournaments from 1999 to 2007.

26 – Most wickets in a single World Cup tournament. Australia seamer Glenn McGrath holds the record. He achieved the feat in the 2007 tournament in the West Indies. He played in 11 matches, helping his side win the event.

63.31 – Highest batting average (minimum 1000 runs). West Indies batsman Viv Richards played in four World Cups, from 1975 until 1987. He scored 1013 runs in 21 innings.

257 – Largest victory margin by runs. India posted 413 and then bowled Associate team Bermuda out for 157 in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

4 – Most catches in a World Cup innings by a fielder. India's Mohammad Kaif plucked four out of the air against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

59 – Most extras conceded by a team in a World Cup innings. Scotland conceded 33 wides, 15 no-balls, six leg-byes and five byes in a group match against Pakistan at the 1999 tournament in England.

1 – Number of centuries scored in World Cups by the UAE. Shaiman Anwar scored the UAE's first century in the tournament when he struck 105 against Ireland in Brisbane in 2015.

5 – Most ducks in World Cups. Nathan Astle of New Zealand and Ijaz Ahmed of Pakistan hold this unpleasant record. Asle had 22 innings, spanning three tournaments (1996-2003) and Ijaz batted in 26 innings over four tournaments (1987-1999).

105 – Most runs conceded in a World Cup innings. Martin Snedden of New Zealand conceded this amount of runs against England in 1983. In those days it was a minimum of 12 overs. Most runs conceded in a 10-over spell would be Sri Lanka's Ashantha de Mel, who went for 97 runs against West Indies in 1987.

121.17 – Highest batting strike-rate (minimum 300 runs). Lance Klusener has the honour of having the highest strike-rate at World Cups. He played in 14 matches, spanning two tournaments (1999-2003), scoring 372 runs in 11 innings, including three fifties.

2 – The most five-wicket hauls. Five players have achieved the feat twice in World Cups. Gary Gilmour (Australia), Vasbert Drakes (West Indies), Ashantha de Mel ( Sri Lanka), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) and Glenn McGrath (Australia).

3.24 – Best World Cup economy rate (minimum 1000 balls bowled). West Indies' fast bowler Andy Roberts played in three tournaments (1975-1983) and bowled a total of 170.1 overs. He bowled 26 maidens and took 25 wickets at an average of 21.23.

73 – Lowest World Cup match aggregate. In 2003 Sri Lanka bowled Canada all out for 36, then reached 37 for one in inside five overs.

*All stats correct as of 26 February 2015

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