MCG to host 2015 World Cup cricket final

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the 2015 Cricket World Cup final.

Australia and New Zealand will jointly host 49 matches over 44 days during February and March 2015.

The ICC has also announced the tournament fixtures, with Australia grouped with England and New Zealand in Pool A.

The MCG will host Australia's group-stage showdown with England at the MCG on 14th February, which follows shortly after the Cup's opening match where New Zealand hosts Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

The joint-hosts take each other on at Eden Park in Auckland on 28th March.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifiers complete Pool A, while South Africa, India, Pakistan, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and a qualifier make up Pool B.

Announcing the host venues, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson stated "the 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is - the most sought-after prize in our increasingly global game.

"The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events - the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

"I'm absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 internationals."

Along with the MCG, other Australian venues for the 2015 tournament will be the Sydney Cricket Ground, Brisbane's Gabba, the WACA in Perth, Adelaide Oval, Manuka Oval in Canberra and Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

The quarter-finals will be staged at the SCG, MCG, Adelaide Oval and in Wellington, while the semi-finals will be played in Auckland and the SCG.

Cricket Victoria Chief Executive Tony Dodemaide told the ABC that his organisation was delighted to learn the final would be staged in Melbourne.

Dodemaide stated "the MCG will provide the perfect backdrop to open and close the Cricket World Cup 2015.

"It's an exciting announcement for Victorian cricket and we look forward to the world's best cricketers featuring prominently at the MCG."

16th September 2010 - MCG’S GREAT SOUTHERN STAND TO GET MULTIMILLION DOLLAR REFURBISHMENT