They may be more used to brandishing a bat than swinging a club , but cricket legends were out in force for the celebrity Pro-Am event at the BMW New Zealand Open . Stars from the crease were drafted in to play the tournament in Queenstown since it coincides with the 2015 Cricket World Cup , with organisers admitting they chose 'to go with it rather than try to compete against it ' . Former Australian spinner Shane Warne posted an Instagram picture from the event that resembled a Who 's Who of cricketing greats from all over the world , including Ricky Ponting , Sir Viv Richards , Brian Lara , Nathan Astle , Mark Richardson and Graeme Swann . ( L-R ) Ricky Ponting , Shane Warne , Sir Viv Richards , Brian Lara , Graeme Swann , Nathan Astle and Mark Richardson line up for the New Zealand Open Pro-Am . England legend Ian Botham ( left ) poses with course owner Sir Michael Hill ( centre ) and Richards . Richards shares a joke with scratch golfer Ponting ( right ) who has tipped Warne for glory . ( L-R ) Botham , Swann and Astle appeared in good spirits before teeing off in Queenstown . Former New Zealand cricketer Mark Richardson speaks to the press at the BMW New Zealand Open . Ponting , who played at Milbrook last year along with returning England legend Ian Botham , has employed his father as caddie to keep him from losing his cool out on the course . ' I 'll just give the club to him as quick as I can so he puts it back in the bag and it does n't end up disappearing into the lake or anything , ' he told Stuff NZ . Despite being a scratch golfer , the former Australia captain has tipped Warne , who plays under an 11 handicap , as a contender to win . 'Warnie will be up there in the end ... I hope he 's not , ' he said . Warne plays a practice round with Lara at The Hills course , which features an underground clubhouse .
BMW New Zealand also coincides with the annual Cricket World Cup . note : Shane Warne , Ian Botham , # ##ie Richards , Brian hill , Nathan Astle , Mark Richardson and Graeme Swann are in Auckland . Scratch golfer Ricky Ponting has tipped himself as a contender .