Cricket World Cup 2015 Fixtures: Full Group-Stage Schedule and Matches to Watch

After all the buildup, the 2015 Cricket World Cup is finally almost upon us, with teams in Australia and New Zealand readying themselves for action in the group stage.

Games start on Saturday in Christchurch and Melbourne in Pool A, followed on Sunday by the start of Pool B’s fixtures.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store and some fixtures to pay attention to at the group stage.

All times local.

Pool A Fixtures

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14 February: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (11 a.m., Hagley Oval, Christchurch)

14 February: Australia vs. England (2:30 p.m., Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)

17 February: New Zealand vs. Scotland (11 a.m., University Oval, Dunedin)

18 February: Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh (2:30 p.m., Manuka Oval, Canberra)

20 February: New Zealand vs. England (2 p.m., Westpac Stadium, Wellington)

21 February: Australia vs. Bangladesh (1:30 p.m., Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane)

22 February: Afghanistan vs. Sri Lanka (11 a.m., University Oval, Dunedin)

23 February: England vs. Scotland (11 a.m., Hagley Oval, Christchurch)

26 February: Afghanistan vs. Scotland (11 a.m., University Oval, Dunedin)

26 February: Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka (2:30 p.m., Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)

28 February: New Zealand vs. Australia (2 p.m., Eden Park, Auckland)

1 March: England vs. Sri Lanka (11 a.m., Westpac Stadium, Wellington)

4 March: Australia vs. Afghanistan (2:30 p.m., WACA Ground, Perth)

5 March: Bangladesh vs. Scotland (11 a.m., Saxton Oval, Nelson)

8 March: New Zealand vs. Afghanistan (11 a.m., McLean Park, Napier)

8 March: Australia vs. Sri Lanka (2:30 p.m., Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

9 March: Bangladesh vs. England (2 p.m., Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)

11 March: Scotland vs. Sri Lanka (2:30 p.m., Bellerive Oval, Hobart)

13 March: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (2 p.m., Seddon Park, Hamilton)

13 March: Afghanistan vs. England (2:30 p.m., Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

14 March: Australia vs. Scotland (2:30 p.m., Bellerive Oval, Hobart)

Pool A Matches to Watch

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CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 11: Corey Anderson of New Zealand attempts a catch during the ICC Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and New Zealand at Hagley Park on February 11, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/

New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (14 February): The co-hosts open up their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka, a team they faced at home recently and took a 4-2 series victory over.

Australia vs. England (14 February): At the MCG, the other co-hosts will be getting their campaign underway against their bitter Ashes rivals, in a game that will hopefully give the tournament some early momentum.

Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka (26 February): In a strong Pool A, Sri Lanka will be desperate to beat Bangladesh, but their opponents will also fancy taking victory and throwing a spanner in the works.

New Zealand vs. Australia (28 February): It is a clash of the two hosts at Eden Park in Auckland, and with both looking strong in one-day internationals, it is sure to be a classic.

Afghanistan vs. England (13 March): England have looked much improved in recent games, but this match against Cinderella story Afghanistan could be their undoing late on if they are not prepared.

Pool B Fixtures

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15 February: South Africa vs. Zimbabwe (2 p.m., Seddon Park, Hamilton)

15 February: India vs. Pakistan (2 p.m., Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)

16 February: Ireland vs. West Indies (11 a.m., Saxton Oval, Nelson)

19 February: United Arab Emirates vs. Zimbabwe (11 a.m., Saxton Oval, Nelson)

21 February: Pakistan vs. West Indies (11 a.m., Hagley Oval, Christchurch)

22 February: India vs. South Africa (2:30 p.m., Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)

24 February: West Indies vs. Zimbabwe (2:30 p.m., Manuka Oval, Canberra)

25 February: Ireland vs United Arab Emirates (1:30 p.m., Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane)

27 February: South Africa vs. West Indies (2:30 p.m., Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

28 February: India vs.  United Arab Emirates (2:30 p.m., WACA Ground, Perth)

1 March: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe (1:30 p.m., Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane)

3 March: Ireland vs. South Africa (2:30 p.m., Manuka Oval, Canberra)

4 March: Pakistan vs. United Arab Emirates (2 p.m., McLean Park, Napier)

6 March: India vs. West Indies (2:30 p.m., WACA Ground, Perth)

7 March: Pakistan vs. South Africa (2 p.m., Eden Park, Auckland)

7 March: Ireland vs. Zimbabwe (2:30 p.m., Bellerive Oval, Hobart)

10 March: India vs. Ireland (2 p.m., Seddon Park, Hamilton)

12 March: South Africa vs. United Arab Emirates (2 p.m., Westpac Stadium, Wellington)

14 March: India vs. Zimbabwe (2 p.m., Eden Park, Auckland)

15 March: United Arab Emirates vs. West Indies (11 a.m., McLean Park, Napier)

15 March: Ireland vs. Pakistan (2 p.m., Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)

Pool B Matches to Watch

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India vs. Pakistan (15 February): There are few better ways to kick off Pool B than a game between India and Pakistan, two regional rivals who hate losing to one another.

Pakistan vs. West Indies (21 February): Still struggling to shake off their reputation for inconsistency, Pakistan face a West Indies side that has some firepower but will want to show that recent controversies are over.

India vs. South Africa (22 February): Two heavyweights clash at the MCG as India face South Africa, with both surely on course for qualification but desperate not to lose to one of their closest rivals.

Ireland vs. Zimbabwe (7 March): Ireland will definitely fancy taking a result against Zimbabwe, who seem to lurch from one crisis to another and could be ripe for the picking by the Associates.

Ireland vs. Pakistan (15 March): The Irish sprung a surprise in 2007 as they beat Pakistan in the group stage to knock out their opponents, and they will be keen to do the same once again in Adelaide.