Cricket World Cup: A quick guide to the 2023 tournament

A quick guide to the 2023 Cricket World Cup

We've seen weeks of cricket fever, but now the World Cup is about to end. If you don't know your one-day thriller from your five-day marathon, here's what you need to know.

The World Cup is the biggest international event of the cricket calendar

This year's event is taking place from the 5 October to 19 November. Like the football version, the tournament occurs every four years. There are 10 teams taking part from around the world and millions of fans watch the matches.

There are two parts to the tournament: a 'round-robin' stage and knock outs

The World Cup started with a "round-robin" stage where the 10 teams play each other once. A victory earns two points and the top four teams go through to the semi-finals. The first-place team then played the side finishing fourth, with second and third place playing each other. The final between India and Australia will take place on 19 November.

The format in the World Cup is different from the Ashes

Matches are 50 overs per team, with an over being made up of six balls. Whoever makes the most runs - which is the unit of scoring - wins. This tournament is separate from Test matches, like the Ashes series between England and Australia which are played over five days - or shorter T20 matches that last 20 overs for each side.

This competition is being held in India

The tournament was played across 10 venues in the country. Last time India hosted a 50 over World Cup was 2011, and they won. Each of the last three winners have been the hosts.

The hosts are the favourites to lift the trophy

Top-ranked side and winners of the 1983 and 2011 tournaments, India, are considered the team to beat. Five-time winners Australia are also tipped by the bookies. Current holders England were seen as strong contenders, but finished seventh in the 10-team table. West Indies, who won the first ever edition in 1975, didn't qualify this time.

But the tournament has also faced criticism

A late pitch switch by local officials for India’s semi-final against New Zealand created controversy. Changes to match dates, with some games being moved from their original slots impacted fans' travel plans. And there have been complaints over ticket sales, with people feeling it's been too difficult to get them.

Plenty of people have tuned in so far

In the UK, Sky Sports hosted the matches, with highlights on Channel 5. There will be live commentary of the final from Test Match Special across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

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