ONE former Worcestershire player was involved in the ICC Cricket World Cup Final on Sunday.

Ex-spinner Richard Illingworth was one of the on-field umpires as Australia beat India - 31 years after appearing himself in the final as a player.

And he watched on as Travis Head’s outstanding century carried Australia to World Cup glory for the sixth time as they downed all-conquering India to silence over 110,000 home fans in Ahmedabad.

The hosts brushed aside all-comers – including Australia in their opening group game – as they marched to the final with a 100 per cent record, but came up short in a six-wicket loss in front of an enormous but increasingly morose crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

They posted a modest 240 all out after being sent in on a sluggish surface – just one run fewer than New Zealand and England tied with in the Lord’s showpiece four years ago – before watching Head take the game away from them with a masterful 137 from 120 balls.

Sunday's achievement was the latest accolade in Illingworth’s umpiring career in which he has twice been voted the ICC Umpire Of The Year, in 2019 and 2022.

Illingworth, 60, played in the 1992 World Cup final, in Melbourne, which saw Pakistan defeat England.

He was a key member of the Worcestershire side which won seven trophies in five years from 1987 to 1991.

Illingworth amassed 742 first class and 358 List A wickets for Worcestershire in addition to 6282 first class and 1237 List A runs.

He was appointed to the ECB list of first-class umpires in 2006, was promoted to the ICC International list in 2009 and joined the ICC’s elite umpire panel in 2013.