Cricket World Cup launched with quirky opening ceremonies

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Australia captain Michael Clarke makes his way through the crowd, to be presented on stage during the Cricket World Cup opening ceremony in Melbourne. Christchurch in New Zealand also hosted an opening ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00am, 13 Feb 2015Updated: 12:02am, 13 Feb 2015

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 vibrant and quirky ceremonies in Christchurch and Melbourne.

Thousands of fans crammed leafy Hagley Park in Christchurch 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.

The nature of wickets we’ll see in Australia and New Zealand are pure wickets and that brings in the match-winners

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum

The World Cup is the largest event Christchurch has hosted since an earthquake in February 2011 devastated the city’s centre – only a few hundred metres from where Thursday’s festivities took place, claiming the lives of 185 people.

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 will host Saturday’s opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

A giant batsman art installation at the opening ceremony for the Cricket World Cup in Melbourne. Photo: EPA

South Africa captain A.B. de Villiers told fans that while the Proteas had never won the World Cup, “We’re as well prepared as we can be and we look forward to taking the trophy home”.