Which national cricket team won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999?

Introduction / Context:
The ICC Cricket World Cup held in 1999 was an important edition in the history of one day international cricket. Remembering which country won the tournament is a standard question in sports general knowledge. This World Cup, hosted primarily in England, is also known for dramatic matches such as the tied semi final between Australia and South Africa.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The tournament year is 1999.
• The format is the ICC 50 over Cricket World Cup.
• We are asked to identify the winning national team.
• Options include Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka.

Concept / Approach:
Australia won the 1999 Cricket World Cup by defeating Pakistan in the final at Lord's. After a shaky start in the group stage, Australia fought back strongly, including a famous tied semi final against South Africa where they progressed due to net run rate and tournament rules. In the final, their bowlers dismissed Pakistan cheaply and the batsmen comfortably chased the target. Therefore, Australia is the correct answer for the 1999 World Cup winner.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the 1999 World Cup was hosted in England and some neighbouring venues.Step 2: Remember the dramatic semi final tie between Australia and South Africa, which Australia survived.Step 3: Recall that Australia then met Pakistan in the final at Lord's.Step 4: Australia bowled Pakistan out for a low total and chased it comfortably to win the title.Step 5: Select Australia from the options as the winning team.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of Australia's run of World Cup victories: they won in 1987, then again in 1999, 2003, and 2007, creating a long period of dominance in ODI cricket. Many cricket records list Australia as the 1999 champions, marking the start of their sequence of three consecutive titles from 1999 to 2007. This pattern strongly confirms that Australia is the correct choice for 1999.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
South Africa reached the semi final but did not win the tournament. Pakistan reached the final but lost heavily to Australia. England hosted the World Cup but did not win it. Sri Lanka were the defending champions from 1996 but did not retain their title in 1999. Therefore, none of these teams can be identified as the 1999 champion.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cups, especially when remembering Pakistan and Sri Lanka's strong performances in the 1990s. A useful method is to memorise the sequence: 1992 Pakistan, 1996 Sri Lanka, 1999 Australia, 2003 Australia, 2007 Australia, which helps place each team in the correct year.

Final Answer:
The national team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999 was Australia.