One of the most prized possessions in world sport will be on show on at the Tauranga Waterfront this morning.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 New Zealand Trophy Tour has arrived as part of a 22-day tour which signifies the 22 years since the pinnacle one-day tournament was last held by joint hosts Australia and New Zealand.
That 1992 tournament, which included star turns from the likes of Martin Crowe, Dipak Patel and Mark Greatbatch, captured the imagination of the New Zealand public and it is hoped the 2015 edition will have much the same effect.
The journey began in Auckland on November 6 - 100 days out from the opening match at Hagley Oval - and moved north to Kaitaia before beginning a long route down the country to the last event in Invercargill on November 27.
Chris Harris, one of only a handful of Kiwis to play in four World Cups and another hero of the 1992 campaign that ended at the hands of Inzamam-ul-Haq's Pakistan side at the semifinal stage, will be on hand to help run proceedings and to put Mayor Stuart Crosby through his paces with the willow in his hand on The Strand at about 10am.