FOR ENHANCED COVERAGE OF THE WORLD CUP GO TO OVAL WORLD'S SECTION 

The World Cup - it's the biggest cricket tournament in the world and you can follow it here on ovalworld-online.com


The teams plus individual stats covering the last three years.


The prospects of the main contenders.


Marcus Hook’s reflections on the tournament, day by day - updated every two or three days.


… are just one click away.


Check out the stats on cricinfo.com.


Marcus blows the dust off his 2003 World Cup diary.


To return to the main site.


Voice your opinions on the World Cup, but, keep it clean!

HOW THE TOURNAMENT WORKS

The ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean is the biggest in the tournament's history with 16 teams - two more than in 2003 - taking part. The tournament involves two group stages followed by semi-finals and then a final. Initially, the sides are seeded:

Phase 1 - GROUP STAGE

The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four and seeded according to their world ranking (at a cut-off date last year when the schedule was announced).

Group A: Australia (1), South Africa (5), Scotland (12), Netherlands (16)
Group B: Sri Lanka (2), India (8), Bangladesh (11), Bermuda (15)
Group C: New Zealand (3), England (7), Kenya (10), Canada (14)
Group D: Pakistan (4), West Indies (6), Zimbabwe (9), Ireland (13)

Tiebreakers:
Team with the most wins
Team with the higher net run-rate
Team with the most wickets taken by balls bowled
Winner of the game between two level teams
Draw lots

Each team will play every other team in its group. They will get two points for a win, one point for a tie or no result and nought for a defeat. The top two teams from each group will progress to the next phase - the Super Eight. If any teams finish equal on points at the end of the group stages, a series of tiebreakers will be used in order, until one team emerges superior.

Phase 2 - SUPER EIGHT

There will be 24 matches in the Super Eight, with each team playing each other, except for the one team they have already faced in the group stage. The points from that group stage match will be carried forward to their Super Eight tally. The top four teams from the Super Eight will progress to the semi-finals and for any tiebreakers the criteria listed in the group stage above will be used. The Super Eight seeding is the same as used in the first round, based on world ranking, with no notice taken of whether a side finishes first or second in a group. For example, if South Africa win Group A and Australia come second, for the purposes of the Super Eight, South Africa will still be A2 and Australia will be A1. If, for example, Scotland qualify instead of Australia, Scotland will become A1.

Phase 3 - KNOCKOUT - SEMI-FINALS & FINAL

The team that finishes first in the Super Eight stage will play the team that finishes fourth in the Super Eight in one semi-final, while second will play third.

THE WEATHER

Unlike previous World Cups, there will now be a reserve day for every match. Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place. Only if the minimum number of overs (20 per side) cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day. Any incomplete matches will be continued the next day from where they left off - a new game will not be started.

PRE-TOURNAMENT ODDS
Australia 2/1 fav
South Africa 9/2
Sri Lanka 7/1
West Indies 7/1
Pakistan 8/1
New Zealand 10/1
England 12/1
India 12/1
Bangladesh 200/1
Kenya 500/1
Ireland 1000/1
Zimbabwe 1000/1
Canada 5000/1
Scotland 5000/1
Bermuda 10000/1
Netherlands 10000/1

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