ICC Cricket World Cup countdown: Matthew Hayden selects all-time World Cup XI

CUP COUNTDOWN: THE ICC Cricket World Cup will open with simultaneous parties in host cities Melbourne and Christchurch on February 12.

2007 World Cup. Cricket. Final. Australia v Sri Lanka. Kensington Oval, Barbados. Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden do a lap after the victory

FORMER Australian opening batsman and World Cup winner Matthew Hayden has revealed his all-time ICC Cricket World Cup XI.

While Hayden neglected to select himself in the side, he did select former teammates Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Hayden selected the side to play on spinning pitches and therefore decided on both Warne and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

However, deciding who would bat No. 11 between Murali and McGrath might be a challenge.

Hayden’s World Cup XI (in batting order): Adam Gilchrist, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jaques Kallis, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan

THE ICC Cricket World Cup will open with simultaneous parties in host cities Melbourne and Christchurch on February 12.

The free events will be broadcast around the world and include world cup players and legends, music, cultural performances and fireworks.

The Melbourne launch will feature a yet to be revealed “special moment’, while Christchurch will be entertained by opera-trio Solo 3 Mio, songstress Ginny Blackmore and classical music star Hayley Westenra.

Tickets to the Melbourne event will be available from January 12.

The #cwc15 party begins with events in @Melbourne & @Christchurch_NZ on 12 February 2015. MORE http://t.co/OdMOMQ5ik7 pic.twitter.com/hV96huFVei

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) December 18, 2014

MINNOWS Ireland, Scotland and Afghanistan will ramp up their World Cup preparations with a triangular tournament in the UAE starting on January 8.

The teams will play each other twice over 12 days in three day and three day-night encounters hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

This series follows on from an acclimatisation tour to Australia and New Zealand in September-October, and subsequent training camps held recently in the UAE.

Ireland play against the Queensland Bulls earlier this year. Pic: David Clark

WHILE Alastair Cook’s sacking as captain was the major fallout when England announced its 15-man World Cup squad, Ben Stokes’ omission is another shock given his breakout Ashes series one year ago.

Stokes made his Test debut against Australia last summer and looked an all-rounder England could build a team around for the next decade with a century and six-wicket haul.

However, his form took a dramatic dive during the one-day tour of the West Indies, where he injured his wrist by punching a locker, and was dropped from the Test team during the home series against India.

Stokes has been in and out of the one-day side, but after scores of 16 and 6 in the series against Sri Lanka — where he also bowled eight overs for 85 — his World Cup dream is over.

After missing out on selection for the tour of Sri Lanka, batsman Gary Ballance was the major beneficiary of Stokes’ omission.

Ben Stokes celebrates his maiden Test century at the WACA. Pic. Phil Hillyard

AFTER a tumultuous few months the make-up of the West Indies World Cup squad is beginning to take shape and a new leader has emerged, but several big names could be missing.

Dwayne Bravo has been dumped as the captain of the one-day side and 23-year-old Jason Taylor will lead the West Indies in a five-match series in South Africa next month.

Bravo, along with Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy, has been axed from the one-day squad, but retained for the T20s.

Chris Gayle’s availability is subject to fitness after battling a back injury in recent weeks, while spinner Samuel Badree has been ruled out of the Big Bash League with a shoulder injury and requires surgery.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach is also on the sidelines after injuring himself in the first Test defeat in South Africa.

Dwayne Bravo at Melbourne Renegades training. Picture: Colleen Petch.

THE World Cup trophy continues to see the best of Australia and New Zealand and last week travelled down Victoria’s Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles after trips to Ballarat and Bendigo

Passing through Victoria’s second city, Geelong, former footballer and unofficial mayor Billy Brownless lifted the trophy in front of the town’s floating Christmas tree.

The #cwctrophytour visited Geelong today with Billy Brownless making an appearance #geelongchristmas #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/XXHSCFAuJP

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) December 19, 2014

The #cwctrophytour enjoys another special view, this time it's of the 12 Apostles @greatoceanroad near @Melbourne pic.twitter.com/MyjPd4wPXk

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) December 18, 2014

Originally published as ICC Cricket World Cup countdown: Matthew Hayden selects all-time World Cup XI