The Cricket World Cup finals are (finally) upon us. After weeks of grinding through the pool stages, we finally have our eight participants in the finals series.
The only smaller nation to make it through was Bangladesh, with a dismal England failing to make it through to the top eight after losses to Ireland and the Tigers.
As expected, the other seven participants in the finals series are Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka.
FULL CRICKET WORLD CUP FIXTURES
The quarter finals will begin with the third-ranked side from Group A, Sri Lanka, facing the second-ranked side from Group B, South Africa on Wednesday at the SCG. We’ll then move to the top-ranked side from Group B, India, playing Bangladesh at the MCG on Thursday.
Australia travel to Adelaide for their showdown against Pakistan, who placed third in Group B, while the top-ranked side from Group A, New Zealand, will play the West Indies in Wellington for a place in the semis.
| Date | Fixture | Time | Venue | City | TV | |
| Wed Mar 18 | Sri Lanka vs South Africa – QF 1 | 2:30pm | SCG | Sydney | Foxtel | |
| Thu Mar 19 | India vs Bangladesh – QF 2 | 2:30pm | MCG | Melbourne | Foxtel | |
| Fri Mar 20 | Australia vs Pakistan – QF 3 | 2:30pm | Adelaide Oval | Adelaide | Nine | |
| Sat Mar 21 | New Zealand vs West Indies – QF 3 | 12:00pm | Westpac Stadium | Wellington | Foxtel | |
| Tue Mar 24 | TBC vs TBC, 1st Semi-Final | 12:00pm | Eden Park | Auckland | Nine | |
| Thu Mar 26 | TBC vs TBC, 2nd Semi-Final | 2:30pm | SCG | Sydney | Nine | |
| Sun Mar 29 | TBC vs TBC, Final | 2:30pm | MCG | Melbourne | Nine |
The bracket will then be the winner of South Africa vs Sri Lanka playing the winner of New Zealand against the West Indies at Eden Park. The winner of Australia vs Pakistan will face either India or Bangladesh at the SCG.
The final will be played at the MCG.
Unlike in previous incarnations of the tournament, there are no more second chances. We are straight into the knockout stages, and at this stage Australia are the favourites with the bookies, in front of New Zealand and South Africa.
MACDUB
Guest
Shorter turnaround for NZ - QF on Saturday, SF Tuesday. But this may work well if we can get some rhythm up and carry this through. ODI cricket tours commonly have games every 2 or 3 days and I feel ODI cricket is very much about momentum and rhythm hence it could be beneficial.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
"with a dismal England failing to make it through to the top eight after losses to Ireland and the Tigers."eng didnt lose to irelnd