Cricket World Cup: Super fan started young

Trent Boult of New Zealand celebrates with team mates after dismissing David Miller of South Africa during the ICC Cricket World Cup match. Photo / Getty Images

Adam Berry once wagged school to see one game, now he’s spent $6000 for seven of them.

Adam Berry bunked school to watch the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

The 12-year-old sat on Lancaster Park's now long-gone concrete terraces in awe of Paddy Greatbatch smashing around Wasim Akram and Imran Khan.

He chanted, "Goodbye Australia", as Pakistan beat New Zealand to eliminate Australia from the tournament.

A mate's mum drove him home. Those halcyon days gave Mr Berry, and thousands of young Kiwis like him, a life-long passion for the nation's summer game.

And so when it was announced that New Zealand would co-host with Australia the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tournament, the now 35-year-old Christchurch project manager vowed to be there.

The super fan, a self-confessed "cricketing tragic", has planned his dream experience well in advance.

He has tickets to seven matches, including Saturday's opener between his beloved Black Caps and Sri Lanka at the redeveloped Hagley Oval.

"It just had to be done," Mr Berry said.

When the Rugby World Cup was here in 2011, Christchurch - badly damaged by earthquakes, and still rocking - missed out. Sports-mad Mr Berry went to only one match during the tournament eventually won by the All Blacks. He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

"I messed up for the Rugby World Cup and have regretted it ever since," Mr Berry said.

"If you don't just get out there and make stuff happen, you pretty much miss out on life.

"Cricket has always been my favourite sport, and [I] have seen all of the top teams play already.

"If we ever get the World Cup again, I'll be in my 50s. I could be dead by then."

He booked all of his tickets last year. In total, he reckons he'll spend around $6000 for the match tickets, flights, accommodation and refreshments.

Sunny weather

The sun will be shining for the first day of the Cricket World Cup when it opens in Christchurch on Saturday.

"It looks like it will be a great day for them," MetService meteorologist John Law said.
Earlier in the week there were fears showers, and southeasterlies through to Saturday afternoon could dampen cricketing spirits when New Zealand take on Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval. But overnight showers should clear early in the morning, and temperatures should reach 16C or 17C, he said. "It's not going to be the warmest ... but it does look like a pretty decent day."

For more coverage of the Cricket World Cup from nzherald.co.nz and NZME check out #CricketFever.