Compiled by EMMET RIORDAN

Lowdown How it all works

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) have consistently chopped and changed the format of the World Cup since its inception in 1975.

And indeed, Ireland had a bearing on how the competition is organised this year after their giant-killing heroics against Pakistan back in 2007.

That victory ended their hopes of making the Super Eights and with Bangladesh knocking out India, it provided a massive headache to the ICC that two of the game’s superpowers were gone. The issue of the tournament taking too long was also a factor in the changes.

This time around the 14 teams have been split into two groups of seven, with the top four teams in each going straight into the quarter-finals, where the first-placed team in Group A plays the fourth-placed team in Group B and so on.

It means the likes of Ireland and their fellow Associate nations will have a much harder task in making the knock-out stages, needing to win at least three games to have a chance.

Although Phil Simmons’s side topped the qualifying campaign, they have been done no favours in Group B, having been drawn against two of the host nations in India and Bangladesh. They also face England, West Indies and South Africa before a final game against fellow Associate, the Netherlands.

World Cup Groups World Rankings

Group A: Australia (1), Sri Lanka (3), Pakistan (6), New Zealand (7), Zimbabwe (11), Kenya (13), Canada (not ranked).

Group B: India (2), South Africa (4), England (5), Bangladesh (8), West Indies (9), Ireland (10), Netherlands (12).

Competition Get Shirty

The Irish Times,in conjunction with team sponsor RSA, are giving away three Ireland World Cup team jerseys ahead of the start of the competition.

All you have to do is answer the following question and send your answer on a postcard to Cricket World Cup competition, The Irish Times Sports Department, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2. The closing date is next Friday, February 25th, with the three winners picked from all correct answers. The editor’s decision is final.

Question:

Who coached Ireland at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies?

On the ground

NOBODY had a clue how many Irish supporters would arrive in Jamaica four years ago until the Blarney Army showed up in their numbers for the matches at Sabina Park.

Estimates ran at about 2,500 and the holiday island was the perfect venue, but this time around the economic situation and the amount of travel involved will keep numbers down.

Ireland’s victory over Pakistan would have found favour with the Indian fans and they are bound to row in behind the underdogs, except for the meeting of the two sides in Bangalore.

Many of the Irish supporters travelling have earmarked the double-header of games against England and India in Bangalore for their trips. If you fancy making a late dash, as of yesterday Etihad airlines were quoting just over €650 for a return flight from Dublin to Bangalore, leaving on Monday, February 28th and returning on Tuesday, March 8th.

You’ll have to sort out your visa, tickets and accommodation, and you’ll need to hurry as the World Cup gets under way today with a battle of fellow hosts Bangladesh and India in Dhaka.

Here are some of the other heavyweight clashes in the group stages over the coming weeks.

Fri, Feb 25th – Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur, 4am (Irish time); Sat, Feb 26th – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Hambantota, 9am. Sun, Feb 27th – India v England, Bangalore, 9am. Sat, Mar 5th – Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo, 9am. Sun, Mar 6th – England v South Africa, Chennai, 4am. Sat, Mar 12th – India v South Africa, Nagpur, 9am. Thur, Mar 17th – England v West Indies, Chennai, 9.0am. Sat, Mar 19th: Australia v Pakistan, Colombo, 9am. Sun, Mar 20th: India v West Indies, 9am.

On television

IRELAND supporters not making the journey will need an alarm clock, plenty of coffee, a boss that doesn’t mind them taking Fridays off, and a Sky Sports subscription that allows access to the remote’s Red Button.

Sky Sports will be covering all the games live, but the Red Button option is required for three of those games, including the opening clash against Bangladesh next Friday.

That’s because Australia v New Zealand is the feature game that day, while two of Ireland’s other five games go head-to-head with England fixtures. UPC have confirmed that, despite talks with Sky on resolving the issue, the Red Button games will not be available to their Sky Sports subscribers.

Four of Ireland’s games are day/ night affairs, with the Bangladesh game starting at 8.30am and the games in India getting under way at 9am. The games against the West Indies (Friday, March 11th) and the final Group B clash against the Netherlands on Friday, March 18th will be played during the day in India, meaning a 4am start for those watching at home.

Cricket Ireland have launched their own YouTube channel, youtube.com/cricketirelandtv.

The channel will include video diaries from the Irish players and footage from Irish games. Supporters can also record their own video messages of support that will be sent out to the squad.

Ireland Games on TV (all irish-time)

Fri, Feb 25th: v Bangladesh, Dhaka (day/night), 8.30am. Live on Sky Sports 1 (red button) from 8.30am. Wed, Mar 2nd: v England, Bangalore (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am. Sun, Mar 6th: v India, Bangalore (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 2 (red button) from 9am. Fri, Mar 11th: v West Indies, Mohali, Chandigarh (day), 4am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45am (on red button from 8.30am). Tue, Mar 15th: v South Africa, Calcutta (day/night), 9am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am. Fri, Mar 18th: v Netherlands, Calcutta (day), 4am. Live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45am.