The World Cup gets a soft opening on Thursday with a predicted 2.5 billion people poised to tune in to the six weeks of action but with the 49-match programme facing a series of headaches. From security to corruption to illegal bowling actions, the 14-team tournament, being played across 14 venues in Australia and New Zealand, will be launched with night-time opening ceremonies in Melbourne and Christchurch.
The glitzy showbiz events, starring two of the hosts' musical exports, Tina Arena and Hayley Westenra, bring the curtain up on the tournament which won't start until Saturday. That's when Australia tackle old enemy England at a jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground while co-hosts New Zealand face Sri Lanka on what should be an emotional afternoon at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
But the build-up to the event has been squarely focused on clamping down on some of the game's darker arts as well as a harsh spotlight shone on security in the aftermath of Wednesday's announcement that an "imminent" terror attack had been thwarted in Sydney. "The global security threat is an issue," admitted International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson. The ICC have also gone to great lengths to reduce the threat of corruption - names of fixers with links to shadowy, underground betting networks have been passed onto the two nations' immigration bodies.
Furthermore, anyone suspected of "live betting", whereby bookies take advantage of the brief delays in TV transmissions to manipulate odds, will be ejected from grounds. On the field, the tournament, widely-regarded as the most open in years, will be missing a string of A-list performers. Pakistan were deprived of the world's leading ODI bowler Saeed Ajmal after the off-spinner withdrew from the reckoning when his action was deemed illegal - just one of a series of bowlers caught out in a recent crackdown.
West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, though not as lethal as Ajmal, also pulled out of his country's squad to rectify problems with his action. As well as attempting to spot an illegal action, the game's umpires will also be expected to play their part in a tough new campaign to eradicate sledging. "The crackdown has already started," said Richardson.
"First offence you'll likely end up with a fine, which no player likes. Repeat offence ... some players already sitting with some offences behind their name, will be punished with a suspension." Living up to the billing that there's never a dull moment when 1992 champions Pakistan are at a World Cup, the Asian giants lost experienced opener Mohammad Hafeez with an ankle injury, seamer Umar Gul because of a knee injury while another fast bowler Junaid Khan had to be withdrawn from the 15-man squad after he failed to recover from a leg injury.
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