Cruising at 135 for 2 chasing 254 in the 1987 World Cup final, Mike Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off Allan Border's first ball, gloved it to wicketkeeper Greg Dyer, and triggered the collapse that lost England the World Cup.
The 1987 Reliance World Cup final at Eden Gardens was the first World Cup final not played at Lord's. Australia, led by Allan Border, made 253 for 5 in 50 overs; England were well placed at 135 for 2 in reply when Border, a part-time left-arm spinner, came on to bowl. Gatting, who had been hitting the ball cleanly, moved to play a reverse sweep off the very first ball Border bowled to him. The ball struck his shoulder via the bat and lobbed gently to wicketkeeper Greg Dyer, who almost dropped it. Gatting was out for 41. England, who had been 135 for 2, lost six for 81 and finished 246 for 8, seven runs short. The shot has been replayed thousands of times. Australian coach Bob Simpson said publicly afterwards that Gatting's choice of shot 'was the moment we won the World Cup'. Gatting has said many times since that he does not regret the shot — 'it was the right shot until the moment it wasn't'.
Border brought on to bowl part-time left-arm spin
Gatting reverse-sweeps the first ball
Glove deflection to Dyer behind
England lose 6/81 from 135/2
Australia win by 7 runs
Australia innings
253/5 in 50 overs
England 31 overs
135/2, Gatting set
Border's first ball
Reverse sweep — caught Dyer
Final score
England 246/8; Australia win by 7
“It was a shot I had played a thousand times. That one didn't come off.”
“When Gatting reverse-swept that ball, I knew the World Cup was ours.”
Gatting's captaincy survived the World Cup but did not survive the 1988 Pakistan tour and Shakoor Rana row.
One of the most consequential single shots in cricket history — a captain's reverse sweep that gifted Australia their first World Cup.
The shot is the textbook example of 'reading the room' in white-ball cricket and is shown in coaching academies as a case study in shot selection.
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