Zimbabwe taking maximum points through to the Super Six stage from a group including India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and England.

Bangladeshi jubilation at home when they beat Pakistan in their first World Cup

Geoff Allott, written off as overweight last year, became the tournament's leading wicket taker. Even with his sock poking out of a hole in his shoes.

Lance Klusener some explosive late-order batting for South Africa - until the already infamous mix-up with Allan Donald.

Scotland fans, the buoyant Tartan Army, making their mark at Leicester.

India's record-breaking partnership between Dravid and Ganguly.

Jonty Rhodes, as ever, setting the standard for fielding with catching, gathering, diving, throwing.

Calculator salesmen - In huge demand to work out the net run rate equations, and the Duckworth-Lewis system.

County grounds all round the country, and in Dublin, Edinburgh and Amsterdam, saw top class games. Although it meant smaller crowds, it may have inspired the next Botham.

Shane Warne, turned it square in the semi-final, reminded everyone why he's the best - just when it counted most.

Lancashire CCC, which felt the benefit of Sri Lanka's early exit by having Muralitharan join them and taking 14 wickets in one game

Nasser Hussain, tipped to be the next England captain, showing he's got the attitude to perform with the bat

Ear piece manufacturers - Hansie Cronje brought in a new way of communicating with his coach

Extras - The wayward white ball led to a huge amount of wides

Richie Benaud's verdict on noisy Pakistani crowd: "It's delightfully noisy, wonderful atmosphere."

Fireworks let off by Pakistan supporters as New Zealand were despatched in the otherwise disappointing Old Trafford semi-final.

TMS's Peter Baxter, who said: "We're happily ensconced in the commentary box in the Pavilion, our home for more than a quarter of a century. You do need a jacket though, Thommo."
Jeff Thomson: "Well, Peter, not at the moment, although it does get a bit cool".
Baxter: "To get in, I meant."

Roger Twose, who heroically took New Zealand into the semi-finals. Along with Scotland's Gavin Hamilton he made it a good tournament all round for players snubbed by England.

For Australia, that run-out.

Inzamam-ul-Haq - Fine batting, but a figure of fun for running out his team-mates

Andy Flintoff - Tipped as a young star to watch, but England all-rounder flopped all round. Great things still expected.

Saeed Anwar, who dropped Klusener

Dave Stewart The carnival anthem just never took off. Central London record shops reported not selling a single copy on the day of its release. The Barmy Army's sample of Soul Limbo - for the English, the music of cricket - did much better.

Clive Lloyd - Had to wrap himself in a rug in freezing conditions in Dublin, then saw the Windies knocked out

Arjuna Ranatunga - From innovative World Cup-winning captain to forlorn unemployed figure in space of three years

Security staff - Caught napping with a number of pitch invasions early in the tournament

Herschelle Gibbs, whose fumbled catch of Steve Waugh will hurt forever - not just because Waugh went on to score 120, but because it happened when Gibbs was trying to be casual

The ECB - Where to begin? Poor chaps. It hardly ever felt like a carnival, it started when the weather was bad and the Premiership was undecided, the Barmy Army felt betrayed, and then England bombed. Better luck when cricket comes home again, 20 years from now.

Announcement at Trent Bridge at India/NZ game: "The enjoyment of spectators is being spoiled by excessive amounts of noise on the lower tier of the Radcliffe Road stand."

Roman candles at the opening ceremony. More like damp squibs.

Twose's cousin, Eddie the Cushion Hirer, who according to the Guardian's David Hopps said he wished he'd taken umbrellas instead.

The estimable Neil Fairbrother, who mostly batted like the gritty pro he is, but whose crumbled spectre (see picture, above) became the symbol for England's sorry defeat.

For South Africa, that run-out