Delight for Gloucestershire as World Cup schedule unveiled

2019 Cricket World Cup

Bristol has been awarded three games at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as the tournament returns to England and Wales next year to the delight of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

England will play the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup England and Wales 2019 at The Oval against South Africa on 30 May 2019.

The tournament will culminate in a record fifth final at a packed Lord’s Cricket Ground – the Home of Cricket – on 14 July 2019.

Edgbaston and Old Trafford will host semi-finals on 9 and 11 July, respectively and Old Trafford will host the much-anticipated India v Pakistan match on 16 June 2019.

 In total, 11 venues will be used for the 12th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. Lord’s and The Oval will be used in London, in addition to Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, The Riverside, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, Trent Bridge and The County Ground, Taunton.

The ECB was awarded the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in 2006 following its withdrawal from the bidding to host the 2015 World Cup. This is the first time that a ICC Cricket World Cup has been held in the UK since 1999. ECB hosted the first three ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments in 1975, 1979 and 1983.

Gloucestershire Cricket Chief Executive Will Brown expressed his excitement, he said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be a host venue for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 and are delighted to be welcoming so many fantastic teams to Bristol. To be hosting the current champions Australia in their opening match of the tournament is a great honour and we look forward to them taking on Afghanistan under the lights here at Bristol. Two other former World Cup winning nations will also be in Bristol in the form of Sri Lanka and current ICC Champions Trophy Winners, Pakistan. Bangladesh, coached by Gloucestershire Legend, Courtney Walsh make up the mix of teams and we know all will be given a very warm West Country welcome.”

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “It is a great honour to have Bristol’s own County Ground hosting next year’s Cricket World Cup.  Locally we are working to make sport more accessible in our city in order to increase participation, encourage more home-grown elite talent and attract more world class events to Bristol.  To hold an international event of this scale will be great for encouraging tourism from around the world and hopefully inspiring the next generation of sport stars here in Bristol.

“We are hosting some great fixtures and I’ll be personally counting down the days until the first ball is bowled in Bristol on 1st June.”

Kathryn Davis from Destination Bristol said: “We are excited about this incredible opportunity to showcase Bristol to the world.  With the wonderful facilities at the Bristol County Ground and our strong cricket heritage, whether WG Grace or the critical role that Brunel’s SS Great Britain made in development of the International game, we have a very special story to tell and a chance to inspire visitors to spend time in the city before, during and long after the tournament.

We look forward to extending a very warm welcome to the players, officials, supporters and viewers from across the globe who will play and stay in the region.”

Gloucestershire

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