All nine Test-playing nations entered, though several experimented ahead of the 1999 World Cup.

England's squad was a hotch-potch of one-day specialists - including Ali and Dougie Brown, Matthew Fleming, Graham Lloyd and Ian Austin - not all of whom enjoyed long international careers.

A seam attack of Paul Martin, Austin and Mark Ealham could not contain South Africa and England slipped out in the first knockout round despite captain Adam Hollioake's unbeaten 83.

Indeed, it was a competition they struggled in until they hosted it six years later...