A comprehensive overview of what comes next for the eliminated World Cup outfits
What's next for knocked out teams?
It is crunch time in the Cricket World Cup as the competition enters the knockout stage, but for six teams, the dream is over and all that remains is a long flight home.
For some – Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Scotland – missing out on a place in the quarter-finals would not have come as a surprise, given the strength of their Test-playing competition.
For others – namely, England – departing the tournament this early would have been unthinkable.
For Ireland and Zimbabwe, it will be a matter of wondering what could have been had results fallen slightly further in their favour.
The ICC’s preference for a 10-team tournament in 2019 could mean this World Cup will be the last to features stories such as Afghanistan’s ‘rags to riches’ rise, Ireland’s consistent ability to upset full member nations, or UAE’s group of amateur cricketers who worked tirelessly to prepare for the tournament while also working full-time jobs.
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A win for the ages // Getty Images
The plans have been widely criticised, not only by Associate cricketers themselves but by a long list of current and former players, including Sachin Tendulkar.
But for the Associates, qualification for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 beckons, while on a larger scale, the issue of how to play more international fixtures against better opposition is the biggest hurdle standing in the way of their development, regardless of whether the ICC gives in to pressure by allowing them to play in the next World Cup or not.
For other teams (England), now is the time for serious analysis of what went wrong.
Here is a look at what is next for the teams eliminated from the World Cup.
England
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Morgan's men failed to beat a full-member nation // Getty Images
Eoin Morgan and his team could have been considering alternate destinations for their return flight, given the expected frenzied public and media contingent awaiting their arrival on English soil.
The first port of call for England will no doubt be a review of what went wrong. Whether coach Peter Moores or captain Eoin Morgan will keep their jobs remains to be seen.
Morgan has said he wishes to remain ODI captain.
“I think sort of looking ahead, the personnel we have are the right personnel,” Morgan said after England was eliminated.
“The hunger is still there to (captain). Absolutely, I've learnt a lot throughout this tournament, particularly when things haven't gone so well.”
England need to move fast, with a packed schedule of cricket ahead. A tour of the West Indies begins in mid-April, where they will play three Tests, before flying directly to Ireland for a single ODI on May 8.
A two-Test series at home against New Zealand will follow from mid-May, before five ODIs and a T20 International, before Australia arrives for five Ashes Tests, a Twenty20 International and five one-dayers.
There is no time to lose for England.
Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe's player of the tournament - Brendan Taylor // Getty Images
Zimbabwe created plenty of chances during their World Cup campaign but ultimately managed just one win from the pool stages, against United Arab Emirates.
The team showed plenty of spark throughout the tournament and could have won matches against Ireland and Pakistan, while they also pushed India and South Africa at various stages. In Canberra, they were beaten by Chris Gayle’s 215.
They were by no means easy beats, but were not able to seal the victories needed to progress out of the group stage.
After the international retirement of their highest run scorer for the tournament and standout batsman of the last eight years, Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe will need someone, preferably multiple batsmen, to step up to fill the void.
Zimbabwe currently has no fixtures set for the remainder of 2015, but ODI and Twenty20 series are being planned against India, New Zealand and Ireland, while they are reportedly also in talks to become the first Test nation to tour Pakistan since 2009.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Alistair Campbell said in the short-to-medium term, Zimbabwe would need to attract more fixtures to ensure it would qualify for a 10-team 2019 World Cup.
“I am committed to making us an appreciated force in the world once again. We need the playing experience from future tours to survive, grow and prosper,” Campbell wrote in a column for the ICC.
“There is no way the smaller nations can survive if the big ones play amongst themselves and ignore us.”
Ireland
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The Irish had a strong fan following throughout the tournament // Getty Images
Ireland were unable to fulfil their goal of progressing to the knockout stage in Adelaide on Sunday, but the Irish players again proved that when it comes to belief, determination and fight, they are number one.
They showed Associate teams can compete at the highest level, defeating Test nations West Indies and Zimbabwe, and also provided two of the most entertaining matches of the tournament to date when its matches against United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe went down to the wire.
Ultimately, those close finishes are what cost Ireland, as it finished level on points with West Indies in Pool B but below it on net run rate.
Ireland have a home fixture in Dublin against England in May followed by an ODI in Belfast against Australia in August, as well as hosting the qualifying tournament for the ICC World T20 in July.
With Ireland hoping to continue to develop and push for Test status, skipper William Porterfield said he hoped to see more fixtures added to the schedule.
“We've missed out on the quarterfinals on net run rate. I think we've shown what we can do,” he said.
“Combined we've played in four years as what one (Test) nation has in a year. I think we obviously need more than just games, but yeah, there has to be more teams in world competitions.”
Porterfield said the addition of a cricket academy in Ireland, a board restructure and the development of grounds and net facilities all boded well for the future of Ireland cricket.
“The academy has been a great addition for ourselves, as well, because the young lads coming through need to play cricket, as well, when they come out of school,” he said.
“They need to get into a system where they can. We've got the interprovincial system up and going, as well, which is three-day, 50-over and Twenty20 comp back home.
Porterfield said as Ireland’s domestic league - the Inter-Provincial Championship - grew, more teams would be added with a view to it becoming a first-class competition.
“That'll obviously need to go semi-professional first, then turn into a professional structure so lads don't have to leave Ireland to make a living out of cricket.
“There's a lot of great things that have happened that are in our control and how we're trying to develop the game, and hopefully when the day comes and we do get Test status and we have got the first-class structure back home, then things will be bright there.”
Afghanistan
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Eye on the ball // Getty Images
Afghanistan won many fans in its maiden Cricket World Cup appearance. While they did not manage to steal a fairy tale quarter-final appearance, the team did show it was one to watch in the future.
In addition to providing some of the tournament’s more emotional moments, Afghanistan claimed a historic win over Scotland and pushed Sri Lanka in Dunedin.
Cricket is a rapidly growing sport in the country and with new facilities built and a home ground in the United Arab Emirates, coach Andy Moles said the next step for Afghanistan was to play more matches against full member teams.
“I honestly believe they could be like Sri Lanka in ten years’ time,” Moles said.
“So how good they can be? We need fixtures. Our facilities are adequate. We've got indoor cricket now. We've got an academy that could improve, but it's adequate."
To achieve this, Afghanistan hope countries such as England or Australia will play practice matches against them when touring the UAE against Pakistan, or en route to other subcontinent destinations.
Next on the agenda for Afghanistan is the ICC World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in July and August.
Currently ranked 12th on the ODI team rankings, they are in an excellent position to book a place in their next major tournament.
Scotland
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Kyle Coetzer scores his maiden World Cup ton // Getty Images
The maiden World Cup victory Scotland yearned for may have eluded them at this tournament, but the men in tartan proved they had the mettle to mix it with the world’s best on the biggest stage.
Captain Preston Mommsen spoke at length before the team’s final match about the benefits his players had reaped from the World Cup experience.
“It's been hugely, hugely valuable just being here and gaining those experiences. So I think that the guys feel in a much better place with all of those experiences. Better cricketers, much stronger mentally definitely. And I think we leave this tournament as a stronger and better team,” Mommsen said.
On a larger scale, playing in a World Cup has also given Scottish cricket a level of exposure back home it was not accustomed to, vice-captain Kyle Coetzer said.
“We’ve just played five games that have been live on TV at home and the amount of messages of support or comments flying around have gone through the roof,” Coetzer said.
“If we’re lucky, we play one game on TV each year so without a doubt (the World Cup) has been huge for cricket in Scotland and it’ll be nice to see the impact it has over the coming years.”
Now, many of the Scotland players including Coetzer, Matt Machan and Josh Davey will head to England to begin county cricket preparations.
Next for Scotland is be the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in July, which they are co-hosting with Ireland.
“We have to go back to associate cricket and look to dominate every game we play,” Mommsen said.
United Arab Emirates
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Shaiman Anwar scored UAE's first World Cup century // Getty Images
The United Arab Emirates players will return home to their jobs - as the only non-professional players at the World Cup, being part of the tournament meant taking leave.
The UAE cricketers put long hours into their World Cup training but the toil will not end here for them, with only a little over three months to prepare for the ICC World T20 qualifiers.
Should they be successful in that endeavour, they have the chance to play at the 2016 ICC World T20, to be held in India in March next year.
The UAE is one of 14 teams set to play in the qualifiers, alongside Ireland, Scotland and Afghanistan.
Other teams to have booked their place in the qualifiers are Nepal, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Oman and Papua New Guinea, while the remaining five places are still open.
The qualifying tournament will be held in Ireland and Scotland between July 9 and August 2, with the top six teams to progress to next year’s World T20.