Fans in Christchurch were treated to the largest fireworks display in the city’s history

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Thousands of fans at Hagley Park in Christchurch were left in awe following a breathtaking opening ceremony to launch the start of the 2015 World Cup.

The ceremony began with a lone bagpiper and ended with the largest fireworks display in the city’s history.

The World Cup has returned to the shores of Australia and New Zealand for the first in 23 years and Hagley Park will host the first match of the tournament as the Blackcaps take on Sri Lanka. The other match will feature Australia squaring off against arch-rivals England at the picturesque Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The World Cup is the largest event the city of Christchurch has hosted since the devastating earthquake in February 2011.

Christchurch was supposed to host the Rugby World Cup that year, but due to the trail of destruction left behind by the earthquake, the tournament had to be moved to other cities in the country.

There was also an opening ceremony at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, where numerous players and legends made an appearance.

The highlight of that opening ceremony was an enormous puppet batsman, which dazzled the crowd by playing some textbook cricket shots.