This year’s Valentine’s Day is not only about love and romance; it would also mark the commencement of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. This is the most important cricket competition in the world and takes place after every four years. This time round, the action is going Down Under – Australia and New Zealand. So, if cricket fires your passion, it would be a lovely time to visit these countries. You will catch the action first hand and of course also explore the cultural richness of Australia and New Zealand. Now, let’s check out a few details of this quadrennial sporting event.
Teams
The cricket world cup features 14 teams that are divided into two pools, Pools A and Pool B.
Pool A – England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland
Pool B – South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates
Schedule
The 2015 Cricket World Cup is scheduled from 14th February to 29th March. In total, 49 matches will be played and Australia and New Zealand will host 26 and 23 matches, respectively.
Venues
These 49 matches will be played across 14 venues; 7 each in Australia and New Zealand. The opening ceremony will take place at North Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand, and Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia. The public will have free access to both the events.
Teams to Look Out for
Australia – The co-host is the only team to clinch the title of the world champion as many as four times in the past. Undoubtedly, Australia is ready to fight “tooth, nail, and claw” for a chance to lift the coveted cup once again.
India – The defending champions would sweat it out in the field to retain the title. It’s going to be interesting as the declining form of the country has made experts a little sceptical about India winning the title.
New Zealand – The six time semi-finalist, New Zealand is striving to surprise the world with its best show on the field. Being the co-host, the Black Caps will get the benefit of playing on its own turf.
South Africa – South Africa is one of the strongest teams in the game. They have reached semi-finals thrice but haven’t made it to the finals yet. This time they would be going all out to break the jinx.
