CHILDREN mingled with cricketing greats in “backyard” matches and Maori warriors shared the stage with morris dancers as the Cricket World Cup opened on Thursday with a vibrant and quirky ceremony in Christchurch.Thousands of fans crammed leafy Hagley Park to see the launch of the First World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in 23 years, the formal part of which began with a lone bagpiper and ended with a booming fireworks display – the biggest in the city’s history.
International Cricket Council Chief Executive David Richardson unveiled the Cricket World Cup trophy, saying it was a symbol of the ICC’s values of excellence, integrity and inclusion. Hagley Oval, which will host Saturday’s opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, has hosted first class cricket matches since 1867 but was extensively redeveloped since to become the city’s international cricket venue after the earthquake wrecked Lancaster Park.
As many as 80 children were joined by famous players in games of backyard cricket played on four giant ovals, divided into 14 individual grounds representing the 14 nations taking part in the World Tournament. Each of the four areas was overlooked by a stage on which cultural performers from Sri Lanka and India, West Indian steel bands, Scottish and Irish dancers and indigenous Maori haka groups – in total more than 1,000 participants, performed for enthralled crowds.
The favourites to win the World Cup are the Australian team who are also the hosts — although South Africa and New Zealand should give them a run for their money. However cricket is not known as the uncertain game for no reason, and it is difficult to predict a champion in a nonchalant way. One thing is for sure, every team are in it to fight and most will try to show off their prowess – however it may not be enough to save some teams.
Always a threat but not quite the dangerous underdogs they were in 2007 and 2011,Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe 5-0 in an ODI series in November and December but have not beaten one of the top eight since a trio of wins against New Zealand in 2013. The squad is a mixed bag of reliable old stagers and unproven talent. Indeed nowhere is the gap between experience and youth more stark – Bangladesh’s five most capped players in the squad (Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal) can boast 672 ODIs between them, the other 10 a combined 174. If they click with the bat then the capacity for upsets remains, though those occasions have been fewer and further between as of late.
International Cricket Council Chief Executive David Richardson unveiled the Cricket World Cup trophy, saying it was a symbol of the ICC’s values of excellence, integrity and inclusion. Hagley Oval, which will host Saturday’s opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, has hosted first class cricket matches since 1867 but was extensively redeveloped since to become the city’s international cricket venue after the earthquake wrecked Lancaster Park.
As many as 80 children were joined by famous players in games of backyard cricket played on four giant ovals, divided into 14 individual grounds representing the 14 nations taking part in the World Tournament. Each of the four areas was overlooked by a stage on which cultural performers from Sri Lanka and India, West Indian steel bands, Scottish and Irish dancers and indigenous Maori haka groups – in total more than 1,000 participants, performed for enthralled crowds.
The favourites to win the World Cup are the Australian team who are also the hosts — although South Africa and New Zealand should give them a run for their money. However cricket is not known as the uncertain game for no reason, and it is difficult to predict a champion in a nonchalant way. One thing is for sure, every team are in it to fight and most will try to show off their prowess – however it may not be enough to save some teams.
Always a threat but not quite the dangerous underdogs they were in 2007 and 2011,Bangladesh whitewashed Zimbabwe 5-0 in an ODI series in November and December but have not beaten one of the top eight since a trio of wins against New Zealand in 2013. The squad is a mixed bag of reliable old stagers and unproven talent. Indeed nowhere is the gap between experience and youth more stark – Bangladesh’s five most capped players in the squad (Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal) can boast 672 ODIs between them, the other 10 a combined 174. If they click with the bat then the capacity for upsets remains, though those occasions have been fewer and further between as of late.
