After a trying decade for England cricket, their chance to host the 1999 World Cup was seen as a prized opportunity to revitalize the sport by capturing the public imagination when the carnival came to town. It was a mighty task. 

To do so, a lot needed to go right both on and off the field. Some did, some didn’t – not helped by England’s premature and controversial departure. 

But for all the mishaps that can be looked back on two decades later, such as a lacklustre opening ceremony or a belated tournament theme song, World Cup 99 left a significant and long-lasting legacy due to the cricket that was played and the diverse audiences that packed out the stadiums across the country. 

This was no easy puzzle to piece together, and in an environment before the ICC had complete control over global events, the job was left to a handful of dedicated staff at ECB Headquarters to make it work. 

Terry Blake was the man charged with the overall responsibility as the tournament director. He joins The Greatest Season that Was, World Cup 99, to tell the behind-the-scenes story of the Carnival of Cricket.

After a trying decade for England cricket, their chance to host the 1999 World Cup was seen as a prized opportunity to revitalize the sport by capturing the public imagination when the carnival came to town. It was a mighty task.&nbsp; To do so, a lot needed to go right both on and off the field. Some did, some didn&rsquo;t &ndash; not helped by England&rsquo;s premature and controversial departure.&nbsp; But for all the mishaps that can be looked back on two decades later, such as a lacklustre opening ceremony or a belated tournament theme song, World Cup 99 left a significant and long-lasting legacy due to the cricket that was played and the diverse audiences that packed out the stadiums across the country.&nbsp; This was no easy puzzle to piece together, and in an environment before the ICC had complete control over global events, the job was left to a handful of dedicated staff at ECB Headquarters to make it work.&nbsp; Terry&nbsp;Blake&nbsp;was the man charged with the overall responsibility as the tournament director. He joins The Greatest Season that Was, World Cup 99, to tell the behind-the-scenes story of the Carnival of Cricket.

A new series from the team at The Greatest Season That Was Presents... US Revolution.

US Revolution features Mason, Shannon Gill and American broadcaster Ed Wyatt in an exploration of Australian Rules Football's US connections. The eight-part series will feature interviews with Paul Roos, Jason Holmes and former ESPN broadcaster Bob Ley. 

Follow The Greatest Season That Was on Twitter - @TGSTW_Presents.

The Greatest Season That Was is produced Jay Mueller and is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network.

A new series from the team at <a href="https://twitter.com/TGSTW_Presents">The Greatest Season That Was Presents</a>... US Revolution.
US Revolution features Mason, <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonGill13">Shannon Gill</a> and American broadcaster <a href="https://twitter.com/edwyatt">Ed Wyatt</a> in an exploration of Australian Rules Football's US connections. The eight-part series will feature interviews with Paul Roos, Jason Holmes and former ESPN broadcaster <a href="https://twitter.com/BobLeyESPN">Bob Ley</a>.&nbsp;
Follow The Greatest Season That Was on Twitter - <a href="https://www.twitter.com/TGSTW_Presents">@TGSTW_Presents</a>.
The Greatest Season That Was is produced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaybillmueller">Jay Mueller</a> and is part of the <a href="https://www.badproducerproductions.com">Bad Producer Podcast Network.</a>

An in-depth look at the greatest seasons in world sport

The Greatest Season That Was Presents...

The first season explored Australian Football's greatest season: 1993. Season two made the case that the 1999 Cricket World Cup is Cricket's greatest season. Season three told the story of a failed footy merger that saw one club eventually fade away and the other reach the highest level of success. Season four told the story of Australia A. 

This season reveals the ties between AFL and the USA. 

Presented by Mason Cox, Shannon Gill and Ed Wyatt. Produced by Bad Producer Productions

The first season explored Australian Football's greatest season: 1993. Season two made the case that the 1999 Cricket World Cup is Cricket's greatest season. Season three told the story of a failed footy merger that saw one club eventually fade away and the other reach the highest level of success. Season four told the story of Australia A.&nbsp;
This season reveals the ties between AFL and the USA.&nbsp;
Presented by Mason Cox, Shannon Gill and Ed Wyatt. Produced by <a href="https://www.badproducerproductions.com">Bad Producer Productions</a>

Terry Blake, the 99 Cricket World Cup Tournament Director has all the answers in this conversation with Adam Collins, Dan Brettig and Shannon Gill.

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