Cricket World Cup 2015: ICC reveals prize money, Pat Cummins keen, South Africa wary

THERE’S more than just pride on the line at the Cricket World Cup, and pace ace Pat Cummins is just one of the players that wants a slice of the pie.

IT’S been a tumultuous week for the Cricket World Cup - as a tournament, and as a trophy.

There have been controversial rule announcements, the revealing of a new prize money structure, squad selection dramas, and the small matter of a sky dive with a beachfront landing.

Find out what all the fuss is about in our weekly Cup Countdown story.

WINNERS SET FOR MASSIVE PAY DAY

The pride. The prestige. The pay day.

The ICC announced on Monday that the World Cup winners will take home a cool US$3.5 million ($4 million) for their efforts, with the runners-up hardly short-changed with $US1.75 million ($2 million) in prize money.

The likes of Afghanistan and Scotland are guaranteed US$35,000 just for playing in the group stage, and if they happen to grab a victory they’ll take home an extra US$45,000.

CUMMINS KEEN ON CUP SPOT

He returned to international cricket with a bang during the recent Twenty20s against South Africa, and now Pat Cummins is eyeing off a World Cup spot on home soil.

The 21-year-old spent almost three years out of the national side after a horror run of injuries but looked to have put that behind him as he ripped into the South African batsmen with impressive pace and bounce.

It is believed the NSW tyro won’t be rushed back into Test cricket but a place in Australia’s World Cup squad now seems a realistic proposition. Cummins entertained the possibility during his appearance on Fox Sports’ Back Page Live.

“Every cricketer in Australia wants to be part of that World Cup, and for it to be at home…it’s something we all have in the back of our minds,” Cummins said.

“Absolutely I’d love to be there.”

WORLD CUP TAKEN TO NEW HEIGHTS

Last week, the World Cup trophy and several of its predecessors were photographed among the spectacular surroundings of Sydney Harbour.

This week, the Cup was several thousand kilometres west and several thousand feet above that level after taking part in a sky dive over Jurien Bay in Western Australia.

According to organisers it is the first time any World Cup trophy has been this high – and that includes the times it was held aloft by giant fast bowlers.

We’re happy to report the trophy and its custodians made a safe landing. The trophy was in fact strapped to the sky divers, ensuring they couldn’t drop the World Cup.

If only Herschelle Gibbs had that handy back in 1999.

IT’S A TIE, BUT BOTH TEAMS WIN!

The ICC has revealed a tie in the World Cup final would result in both teams being declared winners.

Could two teams share the winners’ stage after the World Cup final?

It’s a decision that has created plenty of debate around the cricketing world, with many labelling the system a ‘farce’ and insisting the sport’s marquee tournament deserves to have an outright winner.

You can get more details on the decision here.

We also took the liberty of coming up with 10 other methods that could be used to choose a winner in the event of a tied final – check them out here.

INDIA IN RED HOT FORM

India is on track for another strong showing at the World Cup after sealing a thumping one-day series win over Sri Lanka.

The Indians took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after recording a comfortable six-wicket victory in Hyderabad.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is gearing up for his swan song at the World Cup, hit a fighting hundred but didn’t receive enough support from his teammates as the tourists were all out for 242.

India had little trouble chasing down the target thanks to the 91 scored by opener Shikhar Dhawan and a half-century from stand-in skipper Virat Kohli.

SOUTH AFRICA WARY OF CHOKERS TAG

Despite consistently being one of the best one-day teams in the world since being readmitted to international cricket in the early 1990s, South Africa has never made it to a World Cup final.

As much as they try shake off the ‘chokers’ tag, it is likely to stay with the Proteas until the win the World Cup – a fact acknowledged by some sections of the South African media this week.

“The pressure that comes with living with that truth – there are no harsh truths, only truths – has unscrewed SA’s courage from its sticking place too many times,” Telford Vice of the Sunday Times wrote.

The Proteas have a huge chance to stake a psychological advantage over Australia in the upcoming one-day series, while they could even take a positive from a series defeat, as it is a chance for them to get their mental demons out of the way early.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup 2015: ICC reveals prize money, Pat Cummins keen, South Africa wary