Mike Veletta ➖ Australia v England, World Cup Final, Kolkata, 1987
It’s often the fate of the cameo specialist that he gets forgotten, as Mike Veletta’s trophy-clinching walk-on part in the 1987 final shows. The stories of David Boon’s 75, Steve Waugh’s second-last over, Mike Gatting’s infamous reverse-sweep are the stuff of legend, but it was Veletta’s impudent yet largely overlooked 45 not out from 31 balls in the closing overs which made Australia’s seven-run victory possible. Waugh described it later as “a gem of a cameo”, but aside from that byline the innings has sunk without trace. Veletta says he is happy with his place, but his role in elevating an unfancied Aussie side to their maiden world title should not be underestimated.
