Cricket: Young fans vital to World Cup success

Former International cricketer Dean Jones of Australia poses with local children at the one year to go launch for the ICC 2015 Cricket World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Generating early interest in next year's Cricket World Cup is one of the biggest challenges facing organisers.

Therese Walsh, head of the New Zealand arm of the tournament that will be co-hosted with Australia, said the next year was crucial to help promote the event.

At the Basin Reserve in Wellington this morning, members of the tournament's organising body, former international players and Prime Minister John Key, among other ministers, were on hand to mark one year to the day till the 50-over World Cup starts.

With ticket prices starting as low as $5 for children during the pool rounds, Walsh said getting youngsters excited about the tournament would be important.

"It's just making sure that everyone at every school in New Zealand is aware of Cricket World Cup and is now thinking about it and we are developing a curriculum and some materials to go with, little cricket bat sets, just to grow the awareness levels across the country.''

Walsh believed the Government's financial assistance would help the tournament run smoothly.

"The Government provided $5 million at the time of the launch [last year] but it's just really been announced today because it got a bit lost at the time, so it's just reiterating that support from the Government and the $5 million of funding that will go in to fund activation, business leveraging and tourism leveraging.''

That money will also go towards helping promote the tournament in schools and raise awareness, while also covering the opening ceremony.

There will be an additional $1 million from the Government to help New Zealand have the best possible chance to perform at the tournament.

"The $1 million is very separate but obviously relates to Cricket World Cup in terms of getting the Black Caps prepared,'' Walsh said.

Tickets will also be available to the general public this afternoon after some early pre-sales had gone well, Walsh said.

There's also no "provisional'' tag around Christchurch's hosting of the tournament, which will open at the redeveloped Hagley Oval on February 14 next year when New Zealand meet Sri Lanka.

"The resource consents to develop Hagley Oval were received last year but we then applied under the city events rule to be able to host an event, the Cricket World Cup, at Hagley Oval and we received a licence to do so in January this year,'' Walsh said.

"It's still got to be built but it's on track in terms of its development, so it's just as we expected.''