[4] Steve Waugh, who was competing in his first World Cup and would become one of the players of the tournament, said that Australia were considered, both at home and abroad, to be "rank outsiders".

[4] Under coach Bob Simpson, the Australians undertook extra fielding sessions upon arriving in India, and an alcohol ban between games was also imposed.

Australia's success had been built on various factors: the opening pair of David Boon and Geoff Marsh (who ended the tournament as the second- and third-highest individual run-scorers respectively) consistently gave the Australian innings a firm foundation on which to build substantial scores; opening bowler Craig McDermott (who ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 18) excelled in conditions traditionally unfavourable to pace bowlers; and all-rounders Simon O'Donnell and Steve Waugh chipped in at critical moments with bat and ball.

After being sent in by the home side, England posted 254 for six from its 50 overs, led by 115 from Graham Gooch (who ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer) and 56 from captain Mike Gatting.

[5] Preparation of the Eden Gardens wicket had been overseen by the renowned Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett, who had been invited by the Bengal Cricket Association.

As they had done for much of the tournament, openers Geoff Marsh and David Boon gave Australia a fantastic start, benefiting from the unusually wayward and undisciplined bowling of Philip DeFreitas and Gladstone Small (who conceded six no-balls)[6] to post 52 off the first ten overs.