Sir Richard Hadlee, An Inflatable Ball & World Cup 2015

With almost 200 days to go until the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand, Sir Richard Hadlee has gone in to bat with an inflatable ball at Lord's

The giant inflatable ball has been making its way around the host venues but has made its first appearance in the United Kingdom this week.

The opening game of the World Cup will be played in Christchurch on 14th February 2015 and England play three pool matches in New Zealand, including one against New Zealand in Wellington on 20th February.

Christchurch-born Hadlee is one of New Zealand's most successful cricketers. The first man to take 400 Test wickets, he is on the honours board at Lord's and completed a county double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets for Nottinghamshire in 1984.

He is now an ambassador for both the World Cup and Christchurch airport, one of many which can expect to welcome thousands of fans next year.

Watch: Sir Richard Hadlee and Tourism New Zealands Danielle Genty-Nott with some great tips on where to go in New Zealand

In all, New Zealand will host 23 matches across seven cities and is one of a number of high profile sporting events taking place in New Zealand over the next few years.

The FIFA Under-20 World Cup is being held in May and June 2015, the World Masters Games arrives i 2017 before the British & Irish Lions tour in 2017.

Full World Cup fixtures

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