Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Updated Fixtures for Pools A and B
The early stages of the 2015 Cricket World Cup have already yielded plenty of enticing action for supporters watching around the globe.
An enthralling start to the competition continued when the West Indies put on a record display against Zimbabwe in Canberra, with Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle bagging the highest partnership in one-day international history; the latter’s 215 was the highest individual score ever at the World Cup.
But you suspect the fireworks from the Caribbean islanders won’t be the last time supporters sit watching in awe with plenty of huge encounters still on the agenda.
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Here’s a rundown of the matches remaining in the pool stages and a closer look at some that could conjure memories to savour.
Pool Fixtures
- Feb. 26, Pool A: Afghanistan v Scotland, Dunedin (10 p.m. GMT, Feb. 25)
- Feb. 26, Pool A: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Melbourne (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- Feb. 27, Pool B: South Africa v West Indies, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- Feb. 28, Pool B: Australia v New Zealand, Auckland (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- Feb. 28, Pool A: India v UAE, Perth (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 1, Pool A: England v Sri Lanka, Wellington (Westpac Stadium) (10 p.m. GMT, Feb. 28)
- March 1, Pool B: Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Brisbane (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 3, Pool B: South Africa v Ireland, Canberra (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 4, Pool B: Pakistan v UAE, Napier (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 4, Pool A: Australia v Afghanistan, Perth (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 5, Pool A: Bangladesh v Scotland, Nelson (10 p.m. GMT, March 4)
- March 6, Pool B: India v West Indies, Perth (d/n) (6:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 7, Pool B: South Africa v Pakistan, Auckland (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 7, Pool B: Zimbabwe v Ireland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 8, Pool A: New Zealand v Afghanistan, Napier (10 p.m. GMT, March 7)
- March 8, Pool A: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 9, Pool A: England v Bangladesh, Adelaide (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 10, Pool B: India v Ireland, Hamilton (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 11, Pool A: Sri Lanka v Scotland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 12, Pool B: South Africa v UAE, Wellington (Westpac Stadium) (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 13, Pool A: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Hamilton (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 13, Pool A: England v Afghanistan, Sydney (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 14, Pool B: India v Zimbabwe, Auckland (d/n) (1 a.m. GMT)
- March 14, Pool A: Australia v Scotland, Hobart (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
- March 15, Pool B: West Indies v UAE, Napier (10 p.m. GMT, March 14)
- March 15, Pool B: Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide (d/n) (3:30 a.m. GMT)
Schedule courtesy of BBC Sport
Illustrious Names in Need of Victories
After their excellent display against Zimbabwe, the West Indies should be in high spirits when they go head-to-head with South Africa on Feb. 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It is a match that could have major connotations for the chances of either team in this World Cup.
The duo each boast enough quality to progress from the group stages and into the quarter-finals, but both teams will be striving for a top-two spot; a third or fourth place finish would mean a potential knockout clash with a rampant New Zealand or formidable Australia team.
After his record-breaking knock in the previous outing, you suspect the Windies will be looking to the talismanic Gayle for inspiration.
The languid, laid-back opener was in devastating form at the top of the order as he smashed the Zimbabwe attack to all quarters for that record score and, as we can see here courtesy of the ICC Twitter account, it’s tough to know where to bowl to the big man once he starts motoring:
There are a few other batsmen worth noting in this Windies team, however. Samuels was a studious influence alongside Gayle in that partnership, while Lendl Simmons is another player who’s been mightily impressive at this tournament thus far. But the Proteas will feel as though they have the bowling attack to nullify these effervescent batting talents.
One of those men is Dale Steyn. The fast bowler is one of the finest limited-overs bowlers around and, despite his side's loss to India last time out, he admitted he’s enjoying this gripping World Cup:
The onus will be on himself, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel to pin down and dislodge the West Indies’ key men in what’s shaping up to be a very important contest. But having lost one of their two opening games, the pressure will be firmly on South Africa and if they don’t get a result here, their clash with Pakistan in Auckland suddenly becomes make or break.
Pakistan are in desperate need of a performance too, though. They’ve been moribund in their opening two matches, losing both games against India and the West Indies by sizeable margins.
Naturally, the team has drawn plenty of criticism, but former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was particularly ruthless in his assessment of the team captain Misbah-ul-Haq and coach Waqar Younis in an interview with Geo News TV channel (h/t Reuters):
"I have not seen a more coward and selfish captain than Misbah. He is not willing to bat up the order to protect the other players at a time when he needs to show inspiration.
He is happy with his own runs and I don't know what coach Waqar Younis wants. He has no game plan or direction for the team.
"
Looking at the standard of performances turned in by this proud cricketing nation so far, a shake up at the top of the order and some fresh personnel could expedite a change in fortunes. There is definitely talent to work with in this team, with a blend of exciting youngsters and experienced campaigners like Shahid Afridi for Waqar to work with.
But at the moment, this is a squad that simply needs a win; a strong performance against Zimbabwe next up in Brisbane would help breed some confidence for starters. The tangible and intangible benefits of any kind of victory could help this team get their disastrous World Cup campaign back on track.
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