Australia were at the peak of their powers, with Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson forming a destructive pace duo who had torn England apart in the last Ashes series. West Indies were to assume the mantle of unofficial world champions in the following decade. Both were among the best teams in history.

England, despite their struggles in Australia, had the bowlers to exploit green English pitches but fell victim in the semifinals to a third Australia pace bowler, left-arm swing merchant Gary Gilmour. West Indies predictably defeated New Zealand to qualify for a sell-out final at Lord's.

On the longest day of the year in brilliant sunshine Lloyd (102) combined with the experienced Rohan Kanhai (52) to rescue West Indies after wickets fell early. Chappell top-scored for Australia with 62 before he was run-out by Viv Richards, one of three run-outs by the athletic young Antiguan. An improbable last-wicket partnership of 49 between Lillee and Thomson in the gloaming gave Australia a glimmer of hope before the latter became the fifth and final run-out victim.

Scores: West Indies 291 off 60 overs (C.Lloyd 102); Australia 274 off 58.4 (I.Chappell 62). West Indies won by 17 runs.

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1979 England

Kerry Packer sent a seismic shudder through the establishment with his breakaway World Series in 1977-78, hiring the cream of the world's cricketers for an Australian-based tournament including practically the entire Australia and West Indies sides.

A peace treaty was brokered in 1979, too late for Australia's leading players to win a place in their World Cup squad. West Indies had no such problems. Richards had developed into a frighteningly destructive batsman and, following a humiliating series defeat by Australia after the 1975 World Cup, Lloyd had introduced the brutally effective tactic of four express bowlers.

England, led by the cerebral Mike Brearley, had played effective cricket en route to the final but they came unstuck at Lord's where Brearley opted to play four specialist bowlers and use part-timers for the remaining 12.

Collis King (86) and Richards (138 not out, including a six off the final ball of the innings) flourished as the occasional bowlers went for 86. Although Brearley (64) and Geoff Boycott (57) put on 129 for the first wicket they scored far too slowly and the giant Joel Garner ran through the middle and lower order with a succession of toe-crushing yorkers.

Scores: West Indies 286 (V.Richards 138 not out, C.King 86); England 194 (M.Brearley 64; J.Garner 5-38). West Indies won by 92 runs.

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1983 England

West Indies were in their pomp, inspired by the imperious Richards, abetted by the ageless Lloyd and accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of towering, tireless fast bowlers.

Their final against India, led by the 24-year-old all-rounder Kapil Dev, seemed a formality to the thousands of supporters flocking to Lord's amid a joyful cacophony of whistles and hooters.

West Indies set off at a gallop to overhaul the puny India total of 183 with Richards apparently attempting to win the game off his own bat. He reached 33 when he tried to loft Madan Lal to the boundary and was expertly caught by Kapil Dev running back.

Lloyd, batting with a runner after straining a groin muscle, fell for eight and the remaining batsmen feebly succumbed to an India side who could scarcely believe their eyes.