CWC 2015: Associates tell ICC cutting World Cup teams is wrong

George Dockrell celebrates in triumph at the World Cup (photo: AFP)

‪#‎CWC15‬

Why the associates have sent a strong message to the ICC: “don’t take away our spots in the World Cup.”

It took just five matches before an associate nation decided that sitting in the shadows was going to be a thing of the past.

That team was Ireland, whose emphatic win against the West Indies was a testament to four years of hard work leading up to the World Cup. No longer was such a win an upset, instead the premise of building an organisation that wanted to achieve success. Ireland made the history books well before that though, beating England in 2011 and Pakistan in 2007 – something no-one was expecting at the time.

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Cricket: Why Australia v Pakistan is nothing more than a “warm-up”

Australia celebrate over Pakistan in the 3rd ODI (photo: Getty Images)

The entire series feels as though it is squeezed somewhere in between the start of the Australian season and the wrapping up of the Champions League Twenty20, just to keep the fans engaged.

Of course, this is not the case, and it is proving to be beneficial for a few of the Australian players.  Steve Smith registered his first one-day international century with some superb shots in the first of three matches in the series.

Cricket: Australia v South Africa: time to test the mettle

Dale Steyn has to be a threat come November (picture: Google)

Raise your hand if you’re excited for the summer of cricket to hit the shores of Australia.

If you did, then the first visitors won’t disappoint; the ever talented South Africa.

Three Twenty20s and five One-Day matches means no long form test matches, but Dale Steyn will come prepared.  So will Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

Cricket: IPL over, but entertainment galore

2014 champions Kolkata (photo: BCCI)

Let’s start off with a figure, and that figure is 714.  That’s the number of sixes hit across edition seven of the Indian Premier League, and 60 matches.

This tournament provided one of the greatest spectacles in the history of Twenty20 cricket.  From game one between the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, the stage was set.

Cricket: IPL appeal in Australia still exists, just harder to find

Glenn Maxwell belts a six during his 95 (photo: BCCI/ESPN Cricinfo)

The United Arab Emirates is the stage for the 2014 Indian Premier League – installment seven – and after just four matches, there has already been a platform set for all teams to play high quality cricket.

Let’s stop there for a moment, however.  How does the world see such a contest, and in particular, Australia?