Are you dreading the fact that the ICC Cricket World Cup is just around the corner, because as a ‘non-follower’ of the sport, you don’t know what to say during cricket related conversations? Or are you not up-to-date with what is new in the world of cricket? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. However, much like the Game of Thrones season finale, you cannot avoid the buzz that surrounds the World Cup in a nation that is mad about the sport. So, here is a basic starter pack to get you going.
The ICC Cricket World Cup kicks off on May 30, and it is being held in England this year. In the opening match, hosts England will take on South Africa. England is one among the favourites to win the tournament this year. South Africa, on the other hand, will look to shed its tag of being called the ‘perennial chokers’. In knockout matches, the team has always fared poorly since it debuted at the 1992 World Cup. In the last 15 years, the team has ended up losing nine knockout matches.
A total of 10 teams will be facing off against each other in a round-robin format in the next six weeks. The teams which will be playing this year are England, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
After each team finishes playing nine matches, the top four teams will make it to the semifinal stage. The top ranked team will face the fourth placed team, while the second and third placed teams will play against each other.
The format for this year's World Cup is similar to that of the Indian Premier League. However, the teams play each other only once and there are no playoffs after the group stage.
Australia are the defending champions, having won the 2015 World Cup after beating New Zealand in the finals. This time, the Australian team led by Aaron Finch will play its opening match against Afghanistan on June 1.
The Indian team this year will be captained by Virat Kohli and also has the likes of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan along with fresh faces like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and others. India’s first match is scheduled to be played on June 5 against South Africa. The much anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan will happen on June 16 in Manchester.