A group of foreign diplomats including US and EU ambassadors has emphasised on the de-escalation of political conflict for the sake of human rights and democracy in Bangladesh.

When good neighbours become good friends. Perhaps not on Saturday at Eden Park when New Zealand and Australia renew a rivalry which, in one-day cricket, has been in hibernation apart from at global tournaments since 2010.

Two major storms slams into Australia, bringing winds knocking out power to homes and forcing evacuations in coastal areas.

The return of regular Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second World Cup match against Bangladesh has the team's "full support" even if it will be tough to change a winning side, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson

The bowling combination will be finalised once the Tigers inspect the pitch at the Manuka Oval, where they face the Afghans on Wednesday. Rubel Hossain is most likely to open the bowling attack with captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and if the team feels the match needs an extra pacer they will include young Taskin Ahmed, who has been in good touch, in the side.

Bangladeshi ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan expresses hope that tigers will play with their fullest strength in the Cricket World Cup 2015

Since their heroics in the Caribbean in 2007, Ireland have continued to sit atop the second rung of international sides, so much so that they now, in ODIs at least, find themselves in a separate little group alongside Afghanistan with an enhanced position in the rankings. That is crucial for the next World Cup in 2019, but their one focus at the moment is to use this tournament as a base to highlight the folly that the game's biggest global event is shrinking and the fact they largely continue to be ignored by the Full Members.

Poised on the brink of an excellent maiden century in their first Cricket World Cup match against Australia, England batsman James Taylor suffered an agonising end to his innings

Steven Finn became the first England bowler to take a World Cup hat-trick with wickets off the final three balls of Australia's 342-9.

'The sense of excitement that used to build up days in advance, is still very much a part of my DNA today,' says former India paceman Javagal Srinath

While chasing Australia's gigantic total of 342 runs, England struggle to reach the 200-mark. Lower-order batsman James Taylor helms the English innings with his unbeaten 98 runs while his co-players keep returning to the pavilion. By sheer misfortune, he misses his maiden ODI century and England face a defeat of 111 runs

Of the six previous meetings against England in World Cup competition, Australia has won four, including the final in 1987. But as it heads into what is the opening game for both teams, in front of a capacity crowd of 90,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it’s one of those losses that will make Australia wary given its status as pre-tournament favourite.

The opening ceremony for the ICC World Cup 2015 is held at Christchurch and Melbourne. Both the cities were draped and decorated in festive colours as the biggest show for cricket began with a spectacular show of fireworks and colourful flags.