The 2015 Cricket World Cup starts here

Well this one has snuck up on all of us.

This Tuesday the 2015 Cricket World Cup gets officially launched.  On the Wellington waterfront of all places.  It is more than a photo op and a chance for politicians and media to have a free lunch too. The format, pools, venues and schedules will all be announced.

This is not some far-off tournament.  It starts in little over 18 months.

It’s going to be a bit of a do too.  The Prime Minister, mayors from host cities, ICC Board members, current players, a 1992 side reunion, former ODI captains, Sir Richard Paddles, and somewhat randomly, Waqar Younis.

Will we get any three-way handshake?  Orange anoraks?

This is only the second time this tournament will be hosted in Australia and New Zealand; the previous incarnation in 1992 is widely regarded as the best ever.

This time around it will be a bit different.  The compromise has been reached at 14 teams, split into two groups.  From there it’s knock-out games starting with quarter finals. Thankfully, it will be a snappier format compared to the drawn-out affairs that have dogged recent events.

As with the 2011 Rugby World Cup a lot of the attention on venue will be about Christchurch.  In 92 it was Lancaster Park; in 2015 it will hopefully be the rebuilt Hagley Park.  There is even talk that the yet to be approved ground will host the tournament opener.  If so, that would be a fantastic tribute to the city, and a timely hurry-up for the Resource Approval process.

Outside of that, it is likely that New Zealand’s involvement from a hosting point of view will be less than what it was in 92.  The prime viewing audience for this resides 6 hours behind NZ time.  So that means day / night games, which means the not overly cricket friendly grounds of Eden Park and Westpac Stadium come into play.

In 1992 New Zealand hosted a semi-final.  Not sure that will happen this time around.

Rumour has it that some of the players from that famous campaign boycotting this celebration.  But surely this would be a really good time to bury any perceived hatchets?

Finally there will be a Celebrity cricket match on the waterfront: from 1.30pm to 1.45pm.  Can cricket get any shorter?

Live coverage on SKY Sport from 12.  The build-up starts now.