Cricket: Cup brings cricket fever to town

FANS: Whangarei Girls' High School cricket team members surround World Cup ambassador Gavin Larsen. Caitlin Phillips (left), Hayley Green, Maria Wright and Tia Saunders who are soon heading off to compete in the National Secondary Schools Championships. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Northland cricketer Tim Southee will be hoping to get his hands on the Cricket World Cup when the tournament is held in New Zealand next year.

But yesterday several dozen first XIs beat him to it, when the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy was brought to Whangarei.

The trophy was on show at the Town Basin, while cricket skills tests and fan giveaways were held for budding cricketers and their families.

Whangarei was the second stop for the cup after beginning its nationwide tour in Auckland on Thursday. The trophy tour will be in Kaitaia today at the Te Ahu Centre, again from 7.30-11.30am.

Also touring Northland with the trophy was former Black Cap and ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 New Zealand Cricket operations manager Gavin Larsen.

"Northland is a truly special part of the country and one with a proud cricketing tradition," Larsen said.

"The Cricket World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Its return to New Zealand after 23 years will be a very special occasion and the trophy tour is an early chance to share that with the people of the Far North."

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from February 14 to March 29. Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin will host a combined 23 matches.