The unbelievable journey of the team that defied all odds in the Champions Trophy
The Champions Trophy has always been a stage for stunning turnarounds, but few could have predicted the dramatic script that unfolded in 2004. A team struggling for form, written off before the tournament began, made an unforgettable run to the title.
They had not reached the second round of the ICC event in years, and expectations were low. Yet, in the face of adversity, they proved that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, scripting one of the most remarkable underdog stories in the tournament's history.
By the time the 2004 Champions Trophy arrived, the West Indies were no longer the force they once were. Their golden era had faded, and results had been disappointing for years. They had not won an ICC event since 1979, and their squad lacked the dominance of the past. However, led by the charismatic Brian Lara, the team found a spark.
They breezed through the group stage, defeating Bangladesh by 138 runs and South Africa by five wickets. In the semi-final, they dismantled PAK by seven wickets to reach the final, where they would face the hosts, England, in what would become an unforgettable match.
1. 2004 Champions Trophy final, West Indies v England
— Aman Patel (@lilbrownykid) May 27, 2024
No team ever has won an ICC tournament after being 8/147 while chasing especially when chasing 217, the fact that Windies still won it due to Bradshaw and Browne's 70 run partnership for the 9th wicketpic.twitter.com/fIxHvz47xH
Batting first in the final, England managed just 217 runs despite a brilliant century from Marcus Trescothick. It seemed like a below-par total, but their bowlers made an immediate impact. Andrew Flintoff (3-38) and Steve Harmison (2-34) ripped through West Indies' batting lineup. At 147 for 8, the match looked all but over.
The hosts were just two wickets away from lifting their first-ever ICC trophy. Yet, cricket had one more twist left. Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw, two lower-order batters with little history of heroics, staged an astonishing comeback, adding an unbeaten 71-run partnership to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory.
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— The Cricket Wire (@TheCricketWire) September 25, 2020
On 25 September 2004, West Indies lifted the Champions Trophy, beating England in a thrilling final at the Oval.
Under London's twilight sky, No. 9 Courtney Browne (35*) & No. 10 Ian Bradshaw (34*) played the innings of their lives to seal the deal for the men in maroon.
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The win was more than just a trophy for the West Indies; it was a statement. After years of decline, this victory rekindled hope for the team and their passionate fans. The struggles of their captain heightened the significance of this triumph.
Brian Lara, one of the greatest batters of all time, had been going through a rough patch, scoring just 114 runs in the tournament. His struggles mirrored the team's inconsistency. But even without a significant contribution from their biggest star, the squad defied the odds. It was the resilience of lesser-known names that carried them to glory.
Down the memory lane , Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne thriller victory for West Indies against England in Champions trophy 2004. Losing 8 wickets and still chasing 71 runs.#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/F4WEo2TrSU
— Awarapan 🇮🇳 (@KingSlayer_Rule) July 14, 2020
The 2004 Champions Trophy was far from a classic. The tournament structure was flawed—teams like the USA, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe were included in a bid to globalise cricket.
But the West Indies had pulled off the impossible, rising from underdogs to champions in one of cricket's most remarkable comeback stories. Their triumph in 2004 remains one of the last great moments for the team in the ODI format.
