These changes are the newest to the formats over the years. The first three World Cup events were of 60-over innings. The World Cup was also played with red balls till 1987.

Did you know the 30-yard circle was first introduced in the 1983 World Cup?

There are so many changes that have taken place over the years as cricket's premier event kept marching ahead. Find out in the next few pages everything about each World Cup in snippets.
 

Eight

: West Indies

15 days

Two groups and top two in semifinals

White clothing and red balls

60

No

NA

334/4 by England against India in Group A

86 by Sri Lanka against West Indies in Group B

Dennis Amiss making the first ever WorId Cup century when he scored 137 off just 147 balls.

Another unforgettable moment was Sunil Gavaskar scoring 36 off 174 balls while batting out the 60 overs.
 

West Indies

Eight

15 days

Two groups and top two in semifinals

White clothing and red balls

60

No

No change

286/9 by West Indies against England in the final

45 by Canada against England in Group A

A great knock of 138 by Vivian Richards in the final at Lord's
 
1983 World Cup

India

: Eight

17 days

Format: Two groups and top two in semi finals

White clothing and red balls

60

30-yard circle introduced in cricket for the first time. Minimum of four fielders inside it throughout the innings

Introduction of 30-yard circle

338/5 by Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Group A

136 by Sri Lanka against England in Group A

India beating the tournament favorite West Indies in a dramatic final at Lord's
 

Australia

Eight

31 days

Two groups and top two in semifinals

White clothing and red balls

50

Yes. 30-yard circle

Reduction in number of overs from 60 to 50 plus introduction of neutral umpire concept

360/4 by West Indies against Sri Lanka in Group B

135 by Zimbabwe against India in Group A

First hat trick in World Cup history. The honors went to Chetan Sharma of India who removed Kiwi batsmen Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Chatfield in successive balls
 

Pakistan

Nine

32 days

Round robin. All teams played each other once and top four went through to the semifinals

Colored clothing and white balls

50

Only 2 fielders allowed outside 3D-yard circle in the first 15 overs

Day-night matches.

Colored clothing and white balls

313/7 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe

74 by Pakistan against England

South Africa rejoining mainstream cricket after the end of apartheid
 
 

Sri Lanka

12

33 days

Two groups and top four in each group through to quarterfinals

Colored clothing

50

30-yard circle in the first 15 overs. Only 2 fielders allowed outside of it

Quarterfinal stage introduced for the first time

398/5 by Sri Lanka against Kenya in Group A

93 by West Indies against Kenya in Group A

Sri Lanka scoring over 100 runs in the first 15 overs in 3 matches enroute to winning their first WorId Cup plus Aravinda de Silva's back-to-back Man-of-the-match awards in the semifinal and final. Add to this Kenya shocking West Indies at Poona after bundling out the Caribbean giants for the tournament's lowest total
 

Australia

12

38 days

Two groups and top 3 from each group progressed to Super Six. The top 4 from Super Six made it to semi finals

Colored clothing

50

30-yard circle

Introduction of Super Six

373/6 by India against Sri Lanka in Group A

68 by Scotland against West Indies in Group B

Tied semi final match between Australia and South Africa, which allowed the Aussies to go through on better net run rate.
 

Australia

14

43 days

Two groups and top 3 from each group progressed to Super Six. The top 4 from Super Six made it to semifinals

Colored clothing

50

3D-yard circle for the first 15 overs

Nothing notable

359/2 by Australia against India in the final

36 by Canada against Sri Lanka in Pool B

First time cricket world cup event went to the African continent. Ricky Ponting's phenomenal 146 off just 121 balls in the final
 

Australia

16

47 days

Four groups of 4 teams each. Top two from each group progress to super 8. The top 4 in Super eight progressed to semifinals

colored clothing

50

Powerplay introduced for the first time in World Cup cricket

Introduction of Super 8 and powerplay

377/6 by Australia against South Africa in Group A

77 by Ireland against Sri Lanka in Super Eight stage

Bangladesh knocking India out in first round and Ireland knocking Pakistan out in the first round. Plus Gilchrist unbelievable 149 off just 104 balls simply stands out as the greatest World Cup final inning by an individual
 

14

41 days

Two Groups with 7 teams in each group. The top 4 in each group go through to the quarterfinals

Colored

inning

Powerplay

Super Eight removed. UDRS and Super Over introduced