Richie McCaw's high five fail gives Cricket World Cup opening ceremony its viral moment

Richie McCaw and Stephen Fleming attempt a high five.

Both have captained their country and have dealt out countless high fives in their respective careers but Richie McCaw and Stephen Fleming couldn't get on the same page at last night's Cricket World Cup opening ceremony.

With the All Blacks skipper walking on stage to take part in a ceremonial game of cricket, following a helicopter flyover, McCaw failed to connect on a Fleming high five.

An attempt to recover was just as successful. Hopefully for All Blacks fans McCaw will be more in sync the next time he appears at a World Cup.

At the 2011 Rugby World Cup final ceremony prime minister John Key produced an equally awkward moment by producing a three-way handshake with McCaw and International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset.

Hot spot has confirmed there was a clear touch of little fingers as hands crossed performing the high 5 with Ritchie. concede it was clumsy

— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) February 12, 2015

Last night's ceremony saw children mingling with cricketing greats in "backyard" matches and Maori warriors shared the stage with morris dancers in Christchurch.

Thousands of fans crammed leafy Hagley Park to see the launch of the first World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in 23 years, the formal part of which began with a lone bagpiper and ended with a booming fireworks display " the biggest in the city's history.

The World Cup is the largest event Christchurch has hosted since an earthquake in February 2011 devastated the city's centre " only a few hundred yards from where Thursday's festivities took place, claiming the lives of 185 people.

Image 1 of 18: A group of young lads play a game of backyard cricket before the Opening Ceremony. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The physical scars of that disaster still remain in the many vacant lots where buildings once stood but the people of Christchurch showed the city's spirit remains undimmed.

Mayor Leanne Dalziell said Christchurch was preparing to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the earthquake struck, toppling hotels and wrecking venues, forcing matches to be allocated to other centers.

Twitter's take on the high five

Applause-o-meter just went bonkers for Richie McCaw. The only non-cricketer. So Christchurch. #Richie #phwoar

— beck eleven (@beckeleven) February 12, 2015

Can’t decide if my favourite moment of the CWC Opening Ceremony was the McCullum sexual joke or the McCaw & Fleming missed high five. #CWC15

— Glenn Wolsey (@GlennWolsey) February 12, 2015

Worst high five ever? #CWC15

— Cory (@SmithyInWelly) February 12, 2015

Oh dear Richie got the high five all wrong. Deja Vu. #CWC15 #openingCeremony

— Sam[uel] Smith (@sgowsmith1988) February 12, 2015