A batsman dispatching the ball to all parts is one of the greatest sights in sport. A sweetly struck six is arguably just as aesthetically pleasing as a perfectly placed free kick in football or a tennis player's elegant backhand return. A batsman with a bowling attack at their mercy truly is something to behold and has been a regular feature at the current World Cup, with three scores in excess of 400 having already been posted. However, a knock doesn't have to include a string of eye-catching strokes and massive sixes to be classed as devastating. A batsman batting through an innings to see his side into an unassailable position or batting calmly to chase down a target can be equally as devastating as a player launching a quick-fire ton. Although these more cultured and composed knocks aren't the ones that live long in our memories, they can be just as damaging - if not more - to an opposing side. Over the years the Cricket World Cup has seen many great innings capture the public's imagination. There have been records broken and bowlers demoralised at the hands of greats of the game and lesser known players alike. Here is a look back at ten of the greatest innings in World Cup history from 1975 up to the current tournament.
