The colour and drama of the Cricket World Cup – photo essay

Stormy skies above Trent Bridge during Australia’s match against Bangladesh. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Everybody is allowed to be themselves, and everybody should be a little bit different as well.

Kane Williamson, New Zealand

Bangladesh fans stand during their national anthem before the match against Australia at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Thisara Perera, prepared for the fierce Yorkshire sunshine, and his teammates huddle together before the England innings at Headingley. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya shows off his peace tattoo after the victory over Pakistan at Old Trafford. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The England and South Africa teams line up at the Oval for the opening match of the tournament. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

I’m not even going to try and make excuses. To blame bad luck is not an option for me.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa

South Africa’s Faf du Plessis throws his bat away after he is hit on the hand by a ball from India’s Hardik Pandya at the Hampshire Bowl. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Adam Zampa gives one of his shoes a name as Australia v India at the Oval. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

We've been here for four days and not seen any sun.

Kane Williamson, New Zealand

Pakistan fans look for players on the pavilion balcony as rain delays the start of the match against Sri Lanka at the County Ground in Bristol. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

MCC members queue in the rain before the final at Lords. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

We put men on the moon so why can't we have a reserve day?

Steve Rhodes, Bangladesh coach

On the balcony of a flat overlooking the County Ground in Bristol, a couple dressed up in sandpaper costumes watch the match between Afghanistan and Australia. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Merchandise seller outside Old Trafford before the India v Pakistan. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

India’s Virat Kohli runs during the match against Pakistan at Old Trafford. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

We’ve had issues in the past. We’ve had a few arguments on the field. But you don’t want to see a guy feeling that heat every time he goes out to play.

Indian captain Virat Kohli on Steve Smith, Australia

Australia’s captain Steve Smith looks to the sky as he walks out to bat against Afghanistan amid a chorus of boos at the County Ground in Bristol. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

An Australian fan wears a Lord’s members tie to compliment his Australia shirt during the match against New Zealand. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Fans in the Mound stand at Lord’s perform the Mexican wave. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Credit to Bangladesh. Their supporters came out – it felt like Dhaka or Chittagong.

Ross Taylor, New Zealand

Father and son Bangladesh fans during the match against Australia at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A young Bangladesh fan has his face painted before the match against Australia. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

I’m definitely up there with the greats without a doubt.

Chris Gayle, West Indies

West Indies’ Chris Gayle stretches before opening the batting against England at the Hampshire Bowl. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Chris Morris of South Africa takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss MS Dhoni before falling on to the stumps at the Hampshire Bowl. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

To the fans at home, all I can say is stay with us. Stranger things have happened before in sport.

Chris Morris, South Africa

India fans cheer another boundary from their batsmen against Australia at the Oval. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Australia’s David Warner bats against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

We don’t have any extra motivation because of redemption. I think that’s up to the individuals to tell those stories once the tournament is over.

Aaron Finch, Australia

Umpire Marais Erasmus works with his ball counting device before England against Pakistan at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The bandaged fingers of Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik during the match against India at Old Trafford. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Plan A has gone.

Faf Du Plessis, South Africa

A fan cheers on Pakistan as they play England at Trent Bridge. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Pakistan fans try to get a photo with a player as rain delays the start of play against Sri Lanka. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

England’s Joffra Archer celebrates dismissing Aaron Finch for a golden duck. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A streaker chats to the New Zealand batsmen during the match against England at the Riverside Ground. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

People are waiting for us to fail. They are not willing us on to win.

Jonny Bairstow, England

England’s Chris Woakes makes a diving catch to dismiss India’s Rishabh Pant at Edgbaston. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

India’s Virat Kohli catches Jason Coulter-Nile of Australia at the Oval. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

We’ve played such good cricket, and 45 minutes of bad cricket puts you out of the tournament. It’s difficult to accept, it’s difficult to come to terms with.

Virat Kohli, India

Indian fans during the match against England at Edgbaston. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A traditional Maori singer performs during the match between Australia and New Zealand at Lord’s. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A New Zealand fan during the final at Lord’s. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A West Indian dancer performs before the match against New Zealand at Old Trafford. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Fans outside the ground trying to catch a sight of the action during the final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

One of those things, eh?

Kane Williamson, New Zealand

England’s Jos Buttler celebrates after he ran out New Zealand’s Martin Guptill of New Zealand to win the World Cup. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

I will be apologising to Kane for the rest of my life.

Ben Stokes, England

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson congratulates the England players just after the final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

England captain Eoin Morgan kisses the trophy. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian