Cricket World Cup 2015: At the tournament halfway mark we look at 25 reasons we’re loving the tournament

WE’RE at the halfway mark of the Cricket World Cup — one that’s given us new heroes, new villains and plenty of laughs. Here’s what we’ve loved so far.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Mitch Marsh of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Ian Bell of England during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 14, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

WE’RE halfway through the Cricket World Cup with the 25th of 49 matches being played Wednesday.

That seems a perfect time to look back on 25 reasons why we’re loving this tournament so far.

New heroes

Take Afghanistan’s Hamid Hassan as exhibit 1. Nicknamed Rambo, he’s caught the eye with his lairy headband, painted face and cartwheel celebrations. When Hassan was six, his family fled a bombing raid in Jalalabad and sought refuge on the Pakistan border. On Wednesday he was set to bowl at the WACA against Australia.

Sly: Afghanistan’s Hamid Hassan chews gum while fielding during their Cricket World Cup Pool A match against Scotland.

The Chris Gayle circus

Every great drama benefits from a little sexual tension and the undisputed super star of world cricket, at least in his mind, brings that and so much more. He infuriates some fans — and West Indies Cricket board members with his lack of focus on the on-field aspect of his game, but he has a way of turning on the power just as it appears he’s done for. He’s contributed an amazing double century, and some of the best social media of the tournament.

Current situation? Larger than life.

Current situation. pic.twitter.com/stoqXiY9Rl

— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) March 1, 2015

No animals predicting results

There is a fashion during big tournaments to get one of our friends from the animal kingdom to play odds maker. Think Paul the Octopus of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There was a worrying sign early on when a robot in New Zealand was asked for a tournament prediction and came up with Afghanistan. Sheepish scientists wheeled the robot out the back for some urgent repairs, and, thankfully, it hasn’t been heard from since.

England are rubbish

How rubbish? A newspaper headline greeted them with “World Cup shock — England beats Scotland” after their only win of the competition so far. For an Australian, England struggling is an appealing storyline of any World Cup in any code. Remember last time the tournament was here they made the final as we disappeared without trace? Thankfully, we can’t see that happening this time. Captain Eoin Morgan seems out of his depth and the on field failures have been accompanied by the incredibly distracting scenario of Kevin Pietersen’s possible return to the fold.

India’s arrogance

Arrogance is a charge often levelled at the Aussies, but they’re not in the same league as Team India. On Wednesday it was revealed Virat Kohli had launched a foul mouthed rant at a journalist following the team, and it was a case of mistaken identity. Captain MS Dhoni was under fire for playing football for an hour after a game while the press corp stood by waiting for him to come in and grunt a few reluctant sentences.

New heroes part 2

We’re loving Ireland’s doyen of DIY John Mooney. The qualified electrician has the tough-looking tatts and green headband when opening the bowling. When he bats he wears a special helmet he has designed himself to protect the back of the head in a bid to avoid a repeat of the tragic accident which claimed the life of Australia Test batsman Phillip Hughes last year.

Dark side of the Mooney.

That man AB de Villiers

Hashim Amla has better career stats and five South Africans have scored tons, but there’s no doubting who the main man is. Already in this tournament the South Africa captain has claimed the fastest one-day international 150 off 64 balls, to add to his collection of fastest 50 and fastest 100. And then on Tuesday night he had a bowl against Ireland and took 1-7 off two overs. And he fields like a world-beater.

South Africa have won nothing yet

Go on, admit it. Just as fun as watching England struggle, is knowing that sometime soon South Africa will go to the wire and ... choke.

South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula didn’t help pre-tournament, saying: “We don’t want you in the World Cup to add numbers and just become a bunch of losers. “You are the special ones. You are the chosen ones.” Tick, tick, tick ...

One hand crowd screamers

Unsung heroes of the tournament are the NZ beer company that dreamed up the one handed crowd catch comp. We’ve all become blase about crowd catches but this promotion has taken it to a new level — with a million bucks on the line.

Great celebrations

The Australian style seems to be raised finger or clenched fist followed by a little burst of “fiddlesticks off!” We’ve been given a taste of something more exotic here. Tinashe Panyangara’s squirm on the ground kicked things off, and we’ve had several other fine examples from the fun to the unbridled joy department, none more emotional than that from ...

New heroes part 3

... Shapoor Zadran. When he struck the winning runs to give Afghanistan a first-ever World Cup victory, over Scotland, he charged to the boundary, arms wide like he’s had scored a football Cup final winner.

That won him fame at home and around the cricket world. “My height is very big, my hair is very big and I have too much style,” Zadran told the Indian Express newspaper.

Afghanistan batsman Shapoor Zadran celebrates.

Fanatical crowds

India’s colourful and passionate fans have led the way, but running them close are the Kiwis. Noise levels were insane as the thriller against Australia went down to the wire, and they were in fine voice during the thumping of England too.

The rise of Mitchell Starc

Labelled soft by master motivator Shane Warne during the India Test series, Starc has become a snarling pace beast. He almost produced a miracle for Australia against New Zealand with 6-28 in a fine spell of swing bowling.

How good is Brendon McCullum?

It used to be said that if you wanted someone to bat for your life you would choose gritty, serious, buttoned up Steve Waugh. Not us, give us Brendon McCullum every time — exciting, exhilarating thrill rides guaranteed. Live fast, die happy.

New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum gives it a whack.

Light up stumps

Introduced to the Big Bash League by Fox Sports a couple of seasons back, it’s great to see the flashing stumps come into the big time at the World Cup. They produced their own memorable moment too, when Ireland’s Ed Joyce was ‘bowled” and the bails and stumps flashed, only to stay perched on top.

Lights out! Stuart Broad gone for a golden.

MS Dhoni denied

Have we mentioned his arrogance? Of course. So it was a magic moment when Dhoni was stopped from pocketing a World Cup bail to add to his large collection of memorabilia. The light up stumps and bails come in at $40,000 a set.

Kiwi swingers

Tim Southee’s 7-33 against England in Wellington was the outstanding bowling performance so far, and his fellow quick Trent Boult was brilliant against Australia with 5-27. They, along with Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson, can take NZ deep into the tournament.

Curtly’s back in town

He barely cracks a smile, but it’s hard to keep a straight face when you get a look at Curtly Ambrose’s new hair style. It’s fabulous to have the great tormentor back Down Under, even if he never cracks a smile.

The legend Sir Curtly Ambrose signs autographs for fans at the "Windies Welcome To Perth" event #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/6pWuWUTj0N

— westindies (@westindies) March 1, 2015

Rise of social media

It didn’t quite break the internet, but Saturday’s trans-Tasman World Cup clash dominated social media like few cricket matches have done before it. A whopping 26 million tweets were sent during the match! Vines, tweets and Facebook updates have kept us connected to the event, and stars, like never before.

Cheeky Sri Lankans

Amazing Kumar Sangakkara is firing from the front, but the Sri Lankans are also firing a few cheeky shots from beyond the ropes. Team manager Michael de Zoysa described playing England as a “bye”.

Martin Crowe’s speech

The 52-year-old terminally ill New Zealand great spoke to the Eden Park crowd during the Australia-New Zealand match after being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as they celebrated the man who scored a century on the same ground in 1992.

Martin Crowe, former New Zealand captain and player of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992, is inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Pakistani over reaction

Yes, their team has under achieved, but as usual Pakistan’s reaction has been over the top. Fans burned an effigy of captain Misbah-ul-Haq after the shocking loss to West Indies, while selector Moin Khan has been sent home for having dinner in an NZ casino.

Pakistani cricket fans burn an effigy of team captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Batting orgies

Prior to this World Cup, there were plenty of pundits forecasting the tournament would descend into an orgy of run-scoring, with bowlers reduced to cannon-fodder.

Their worst fears appear to have been realised with 14 scores of 300 and over. But is this a bad thing? The big hitting has been a thrilling part of this Cup.

Retro kit

They’re everywhere. Duck egg blue of England, canary yellow of Australia. The 1992 World Cup kits have never been bettered. You can tell by how many you’ll spot in the stands.

It’s on, all the time!

You’re a cricket fan. Otherwise you wouldn’t be reading right down here. So, how good it is that every time you look at a TV there’s cricket on it. In HD. At least on Fox Sports 3.

Follow the author on twitter @toneharper

With reporting by Greg Buckle.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup 2015: At the tournament halfway mark we look at 25 reasons we’re loving the tournament