Fans bowled over by World Cup trophy

Dominic Kyle-McIlroy, 9, (left) and Rifle Dinsdale, 11, with Black Cap legend Chris Harris in Rotorua yesterday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua's cricket fans have been getting up close and personal with the World Cup trophy, as well as a Black Caps legend.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 New Zealand Trophy Tour arrived at the Village Green yesterday morning as part of a 22-day national tour.

Community engagement and stakeholder relations manager for the ICC Cricket World Cup Andrew Steele said it was part of a promotion for the World Cup tournament which will be held in New Zealand and Australia this summer.

Attendees could try their hand at bowling, catching and batting, writing a message to the Black Caps and entering competitions to win tickets to World Cup matches.

Rifle Dinsdale, 11, and Dominic Kyle-McIlroy, 9, came with four other members of the Selwyn Primary School cricket team. They had taken time out of school to have a photo with the cup and meet New Zealand cricket legend Chris Harris, who is accompanying the trophy around the country.

Dominic and Rifle were stoked to have Harris bowl to them at one of the cricket stations set up on the Village Green. Harris said he was impressed with the Rotorua talent.

"There are a number of talented kids coming through today, some big hitters. I bowled for Dominic and Rifle and they both smashed me," he said.

Harris, who was a Black Cap in New Zealand's 1992 World Cup challenge, said he was enjoying the tour.

"It's so exciting, I am the luckiest man in the world to be part of it again after 23 years. It's an amazing experience, I don't know who is having more fun, them or me," he said.

Mr Steele said the trophy tour had been well received.

"A little boy just ran past yelling 'this is so awesome', so the kids love it. It's about getting the kids enthusiastic, not just about the World Cup but about cricket in general," he said.

The trophy tour also visited Lynmore School and Te Puia. Taupo fans get their turn when the tour stops at the Tongariro Domain between 10am and 2pm tomorrow.