ICC Cricket World Cup Highlights: Battlelines Drawn as Teams Strike Musical Note in Glitzy Event
Australia and New Zealand welcome the ICC cricket World Cup after a gap of 23 years. It has been a long wait but Melbourne and Christchurch finally greet fans and cricketers - present and former - with open arms for the showpiece event.
The last time the showpiece 50-over tournament came calling on Australian shores, it was a remarkably different world. White cricket balls and coloured jerseys had only just been introduced, Sachin Tendulkar vs Shane Warne duels were unheard of and South Africa were coming out of exile. In 23 years since, a lot has changed but the sheer passion for the sport here has remained intact - a fact Melbourne and Christchurch highlighted in Thursday's opening ceremony. (Fixtures | Teams | Players | Venues | History)
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* Fireworks once again light up Melbourne skyline and this city - along with 13 others - welcomes cricketing action!
* They are smiling now but which captain will have the last laugh?
A few of the @CricketWorldCup captains have arrived at the #CWC15 Opening Ceremony! https://t.co/ngp5kuU7xS
- ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2015
* The first part of the opening ceremony ends with Christchurch promising fantastic cricket. Over to Melbourne where Australians unfold the red carpet.
@BCCI MS Dhoni and @TheRealPCB Misbah-ul-Haq at #cwc15 Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/ksMFnjv5zm
- ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) February 12, 2015
* Musical extravaganza excites fans under a firework-lit Melbourne sky.
* Time for captains to walk out. Dhoni leads the way, followed by Misbah and all the other captains. Aussie captain Michael Clarke, understandably, gets the biggest cheer.
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* Zimbabwean singers and Maori dancers from New Zealand welcome fans.
* Sri Lankan dancers bring out their tradition in the form of an exquisite dance.
* South African performers put up an energetic display of song and dance.
* Scottish bagpipers come onto the stage.
* Pakistan artists now on the stage and sing local songs from the country. Children join them on stage, waving the national flag.
* Irish singers replace the dance number.
* Indian dancers light up the stage and the fans go berserk with joy. What a fantastic cheer and reception as the tri-colour is waved all over.
* British ballet dancers are now on the stage in a performance of exquisite elegance.
* Afghan and Bangladeshi artists bring Asian flavour to Melbourne.
* John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, declares the event officially open! "We'll be fantastic hosts. Wish all teams luck but wish Black Caps a bit more," he says.
* Kiwi sportspersons - non cricketers - come on stage to pay tribute to the game, the tournament and the spirit.
* Melbourne: Australian cricketers arrive for the opening ceremony at Myer Music Bowl.
* New Zealand's splendour in full display at Christchurch with traditional Maori dancers setting the stage alive.
@BLACKCAPS @cricketworldcup loving the opening, tears in my eyes seeing our culture on display. We look fantastic
- HeatherMC (@pukeko65) February 12, 2015
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AFP inputs: New Zealand abuzz ahead of World Cup
Organisers say New Zealand is buzzing with excitement ahead of the Cricket World Cup, the largest sporting event held in the South Pacific nation since rugby union's showcase tournament in 2011.
New Zealand is co-hosting the event with Australia and will stage 23 games in seven cities, including two quarter-finals and a semi.
"Interest is building really rapidly," Sports Minister Jonathan Coleman told AFP.
"The Black Caps have had a great summer, we've sold more than 300,000 tickets of the 400,000 available in New Zealand. It's all go, people are really excited about the tournament, about the visitors coming here and we're quietly optimistic about the Black Caps chances."
* Christchurch: New Zealand and Sri Lanka will battle in the opener. Captains of both teams on the stage and put up a brave face. "This World Cup is wide open and we will fight hard," says Brendon McCullum. Angelo Matthews too promises a fine show. "We will give it our all."
Meanwhile, South Africa captain AB de Villiers also joins McCullum, Matthews and Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura on the stage. 'Will take the World Cup home," he says.
* Christchurch: Sir Richard Hadlee - one of New Zealand's greatest cricketers - is welcomed on the stage by a loud and energetic crowd.
* Christchurch: Dancers come out in their traditional dresses to set the stage on fire.
* Indian fans are egging players to bleed blue and return with the World Cup firmly in their kitty. For the Australians though, it is 'Go Gold!' Watch head coach Darren Lehmann talk about what it takes to become champions in this enormously inspiring video clip.
* The South Africans are all decked up and ready for the opening ceremony.
* Where are the Indian cricketers? Defending champions are in Adelaide and are sweating it out after a day's break. (Read full report)
* Christchurch: Fans give a rousing welcome to New Zealand cricketers as they arrive at Hagley Park for the opening ceremony.
The @BLACKCAPS are here, along with #1 fan @johnkeypm #cwc15 @cricketworldcup ^RI pic.twitter.com/r93PLlr1ei
- BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 12, 2015
* Breaking: Major news from the warmup matches today - Ireland stun Bangladesh by four wickets. West Indies barely beat Scotland - by three runs.
* The World Cup trophy has had quite a journey in the last one year or thereabouts. From flying high in a hot air balloon, skydiving and meeting Rolling Stones to shark diving and traveling around the world, the trophy has had a gala time being the most sought-after thing in international cricket.
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* While festivities and celebrations are all fine, the battles will begin from Saturday (February 14). Australians enter the tournament as the top-ranked team but they had been the best in the 2011 edition as well before India overtook the side in the ICC rankings after winning in Mumbai. (Read more here)
* Did you know? A devastating earthquake had struck Christchurch in 2011. The opening ceremony here today would also raise a toast to the Kiwi spirit and how the city rebuilt itself again.
* Reports from Down Under suggest fans in both cities started coming in as early as 1400hrs (local, 0330hrs IST) for the ceremony. The events are free for the public.
* Breaking: Australia captain has been ruled out of the team's first ODI against England. (Read more)
* Did you know? The 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had a number of firsts. It was the first time coloured jerseys were used in the history of the tournament. It was also for the first time that white balls and the black sight screens were used to assist batsmen. This was the first time that the World Cup was taking place in the southern hemisphere and was the first time that Pakistan won the tournament. Unfortunately for Pakistan fans, the team has failed every time since and has also not been able to defeat India in the event. (Also read: India favourites against Pakistan once again, say Gavaskar and Laxman)
* Melbourne: It's a pleasant Thursday evening here with the mercury around 21C. There is a gentle breeze above and a boisterous energy on the ground.
* Christchurch: Kiwi fans can expect legends like Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum here.
Hagley Park is filling up for @cricketworldcup #cwc15 Opening Event, tweet us if you're here! ^RI pic.twitter.com/FIfwm4gqH3
- BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 12, 2015
* Christchurch: Many fans have already started marking their spots at the North Hagley Park to watch the ceremony as closely as possible. According to New Zealand Herald, many hundreds came earlier than officials expected but no one is really complaining. Deck chairs, blankets, coolers - you name it, they have it!
* It is beginning to heat up in both Melbourne and Christchurch. There is a palpable sense of excitement here, and why not? Locals feel cricket is in the air and can almost whiff the brilliant aroma of cricket greatness around them.
One is a city of over four million while the other houses close to 400,000. Melbourne and Christchurch may be different in terms of demographics but the two cities are premier centers of culture and cricket in their respective countries and are determined to showcase the two. Indeed a night of revelry and party can be expected before the 14 teams, 210 players and billions of fans battle for the biggest prize in cricket. (Team India gets a rousing reception)