It was the beginning of the first World Cup, and the beginning of a new cricketing era as eight nations converged on England to do battle for the unprecedented title of world champions with crowds expecting buccaneering batsman, blazing boundaries and brooding bowlers. And so it proved ... well, to begin with. England started at Lord's with a bang, most of them coming from Dennis Amiss's bat as he blasted the Indians for 137 off 147 balls including 18 fours. Supported by Keith Fletcher (68) and Chris Old (51), Amiss led the way as England rocked up 334 for four from their 60 overs. He was particularly harsh on left-armer Karson Ghavri who disappeared for 83 off 11 overs.

England's was the highest total in a one-day international until 1983 and if the Lord's crowd wondered how India would go about winning, they needn't have bothered as Sunil Gavaskar sent them all to sleep with a batting display so boring even Geoffrey Boycott might have been tempted to leave the ground.

Having decided that India had no chance of victory, Gavaskar booked himself in for an extended net. In 60 overs he crept to 36 not out off 174 balls, to the chagrin of his coach, his captain ... and one spectator, who was moved to march out and drop his lunch on the pitch...

Almanack report
Scorecard

Freddie Auld is on the staff of Wisden.com.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd