AFTER MONTHS OF preparations and planning, the 2015 Cricket World Cup gets underway tomorrow evening as the top 14 one-day teams come together to play 49 matches across 44 days in Australia and New Zealand, with the goal of winning cricket’s greatest prize.
It’s the eleventh staging of the sport’s show-piece event but, cricket can be a complicated and, at times, perplexing game to follow.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled all the things you need to know in order to follow Ireland’s progress over the next few weeks in one handy guide.
Where and when is the tournament?
The tournament is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand with seven venues in each country being used.
It starts on Saturday 14 February at 11am local time in Christchurch but the time difference means the opening game of the tournament starts at 10pm Irish time on Friday.
Fixtures are taking place in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and Perth while in New Zealand, the host cities are Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Napier, Dunedin, Nelson and Christchurch.
The group stages run until Sunday 15 March with the quarter-finals beginning three days later. The final will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday 29 March.
Which teams are involved and how did they qualify?
The top ten teams in the ICC rankings – Australia, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – all qualified automatically.
Ireland and Afghanistan both booked their place through the World Cricket League (which Ireland won in July 2013) while Scotland and UAE secured their spots as the two remaining teams by finishing first and second in a qualifying tournament last year.
The 14 teams are split into Pool A and B with each side playing each other over the course of the group stages. The top four teams qualify for the quarter-finals.
When are Ireland’s group games?
(All times GMT)
- 15 February v West Indies, Nelson – 10pm
- 25 February v UAE, Brisbane – 3.30am
- 3 March v South Africa, Canberra – 3.30am
- 7 March v Zimbabwe, Hobart – 3.30am
- 10 March v India, Hamilton – 1am
- 15 March v Pakistan, Adelaide - 3.30am
What do Ireland have to do to progress to the quarter-finals?
Phil Simmons’ side will need at least three victories in Pool B in order to secure a berth in the last eight. They’ll fancy their chances against fellow Associates UAE and perennial underachievers Zimbabwe but that means they’ll have to upset one of the four other Full Members in the group.
On paper, the first game against a troubled West Indies side is the obvious fixture to target but the final Pool B game in Adelaide against Pakistan could also be seen as an opportunity. Regardless of where or how they come, Ireland need six points (two for a win, one for a tie/no result) in order to progress.
How long are the matches?
Each of the games in cricket’s marquee event is an One-Day International with each innings lasting 50 overs.
Ireland’s first group game in Nelson starts at 10pm Irish time and should it go the full distance (all 100 overs plus a 40-minute interval) the match will be over no later than 5.30am Irish time.
For the matches in Australia, they start at 3.30am Irish time and will be over by 11.30am.
It’s worth noting that if any of the group games are abandoned due to weather, there are no reserve days for the initial Pool stage and each team will receive a point for a no result.
If I’m going to be staying up, where can I watch the games?
Sky Sports are dedicating an entire channel to the World Cup, from the first day of the biggest event in the international cricket calendar to the last.
They’re showing all 49 games live either on the main channel or behind the red button and the good news is that Ireland’s group games, save for the Zimbabwe fixture, are all being shown on the main channel.
For those with ITV4, highlights will be shown each night at 10.35pm. But, if you have to go to bed or miss any of the action you’ll keep able to follow full coverage of Ireland’s games right here on The42.
You can follow all the build-up to the Cricket World Cup on The42 here.
- Originally published 0745
