There is speculation that Ireland and Scotland could be included in the County Championship in future, with a three-division tournament being looked at, and those nations are eager to see that come to pass.
The group stage is over, and we are saying goodbye to Associate involvement for another World Cup, and maybe we are saying goodbye to them forever. Here's a review of their efforts.
The influence of two new balls from both ends, revised fielding restrictions, and T20 have transformed the predominant 50-over strategy, turning the ODI revolution of the 1990s inside-out.
A strong batting performance from all their major players saw Bangladesh see off a strong challenge from associate side Scotland and secure a six wicket win in a World Cup Pool A match at the Saxton Oval in Nelson on Thursday.
ICC chief N Srinivasan took the opportunity during the World Cup final, while being interviewed in the commentary box, to defend the ICC's plan to reduce the World Cup to 10 teams in 2019.
He is the only man to captain England to a world title, the World T20 in 2010, but Scotland assistant coach Paul Collingwood believes his team can beat the odds and upset his national side when the two teams meet in a World Cup Pool A clash in Christchurch on Monday.
New Zealand kept their winning run in tact at this year's World Cup when they beat South Africa by four wickets in their rain-affected semi-final in Auckland on Tuesday, reaching their first ever final in thrilling fashion.
While the teams taking part in this game in Tasmania will find it important, the other side keeping a close eye will be South Africa, as the result could determine who they face in the quarter-finals. A wash-out will see Oz face the Proteas next week.
The rain in Hobart nearly scuppered Australia's quarter-final plans, as a wash-out would have seen them face South Africa in Adelaide, but Scotland provided a small target, so the Aussies won by seven wickets after a long rain break.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said the mood in the side is still good and they will leave the World Cup, after their final match against co-hosts Australia, a stronger side than the one that arrived.
Scotland vice-captain Kyle Coetzer admits that everyone in the Scottish squad has thought about how they are going to face Australia fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc when they bowl at speeds of 150kph.
Kumar Sangakkara scored his fourth consecutive century, the first player to do so in ODI's, as Sri Lanka eased to a 148-run win over Scotland in a World Cup Pool A encounter in Hobart on Wednesday.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen says his side is keen to use the opportunity to test themselves against better opposition, when they play Sri Lanka and co-hosts Australia in their final two matches of the World Cup.
In the science fiction television series, Star Trek, set in the 24th century, baseball is an obscure sport that nobody plays or watches any more. On current trends, this will be the fate of cricket by the middle of this century.
England overcame Scotland with relative ease in Christchurch on Monday, with a century from Moeen Ali ensuring a 300-plus score, and then the bowlers doing the job to see the tartan-clad side all out for 184, a win of 119 runs.
Scotland have never won a World Cup match, and are hoping that their clash against England in Christchurch on Monday will change that, given England's severe slump in form in Australasia so far.
England, you're making it very difficult, nay impossible, to pick any of you for our Dunamis UK Player of the Week, and Joe Root, your effort against Sri Lanka was admirable, but we cannot ignore the genius that is Kumar Sangakkara.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen says their loss to Bangladesh was very disappointing, but gave credit to the Tigers for chasing down a Scotland record score to win comfortably in the end.
Both went on to lose their first two matches in the group stage, Afghanistan succumbing to a heavy defeat against Bangladesh before stretching Sri Lanka in their second game and Scotland taking seven wickets against New Zealand in defence of a small total before losing heavily against England.
Scotland are still looking for their maiden World Cup victory, having been denied by Afghanistan last week, while Bangladesh must win in Nelson to keep their quarter-final quest on track.
At previous appearances at the 1999 and 2007 World Cup, they suffered eight defeats and it will be Scotland's priority to ensure that run doesn't extend to 14.
