The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 tournament begins with England vs. New Zealand facing off at Narendra Modi Stadium. The cricket festival, hosted entirely by India for the first time, commences after a four-year wait.
It marks the 13th edition of the historic event, featuring 48 years of cricket history and 12 past champions. The opening match showcases the defending champion, England, against the runner-up, New Zealand, in this highly expected event.
The Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium, known as the world’s largest ground, is ready for the inaugural match. England is geared up for a winning campaign. They had triumphed in the 2019 ODI World Cup final, clinching the title by boundary count after a tie with New Zealand.
Table of Contents
Clash of Titans: England and India Gear Up for Thrilling World Cup Opener
The opening match of this World Cup promises excitement, resembling the intensity of the 2019 final at Lord’s. England and the cobra, referring to India, seek to avenge past defeats and start strong.
Both teams are favored to reach the semi-finals, aiming for a victorious tournament start. In a recent warm-up match, England, the defending champion, showcased their strength with a resounding win against Bangladesh.
They also secured wins in warm-up games against New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Both sides have a solid batting order
Both teams have strong batting line-ups. England possesses an explosive and robust batting order featuring Jonny Bairstow, David Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, and Moeen Ali.
Their key to success is aggressive play. Unfortunately, Ben Stokes is unavailable for this match due to injury. Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s captain, may not play.
Nevertheless, New Zealand boasts a strong batting department with Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glen Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra/James Neesham, who are all capable of scoring runs.
Both squads have speedsters
England possesses a strong batting lineup and an equally potent bowling attack. Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood excel in bowling, while Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid can be game-changers with their spin.
Trent Boult specializes in yorkers and takes early wickets. Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are also reliable wicket-takers. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner are skilled spinners. However, there is uncertainty surrounding Tim Southee’s availability.
Live Telecast details
- Date: October 5, Thursday
- Time: 2:00 PM, Toss at 1:30 PM
- Live Streaming: Disney + Hotstar App and Website
- Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Batting and bowling will be a close battle for both sides. Despite the absence of important players, the batters are set to score runs at the Narendra Modi stadium. The bowlers’ goal is to get the batsman out.
We’re excited to watch who wins the Batu-Balu match at Ahmedabad Modi Stadium. Another legendary game is on the way.
Pitch Condition
The Narendra Modi Ground in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has a batting-friendly pitch. Because both sides have good hitting, a high total is likely. This pitch will benefit the slower runners. However, it is quite tough for spinners to achieve success here.
H2H in the World Cup tournament
In the 12 ODI World Cup tournaments since 1975, England vs. New Zealand have faced each other 10 times, with each team winning 5 matches.
At Narendra Modi ground, there were 2 T20 matches involving England and 1 involving New Zealand.
In total ODI history, England and New Zealand have played 95 times, with England winning 45 matches and New Zealand winning 44. 4 matches ended without a result.
Weather Forecast
Rain was forecast for the World Cup warm-up match here. However, the meteorological authority has stated that there would be no rain for the first match.
Spectators may relax and enjoy the game. There will be primarily clear skies and no clouds. Fielding will probably exhaust because of the likelihood of blisters.
As a result, the side that wins the toss will most likely bat first. However, as the match develops, there will be dew throughout the evening and night. The bowlers will have a terrible time.
Stadium Records and Statistics
Narendra Modi ground has hosted 28 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Batting teams have won 16 times, while chasing teams have won 12 times. The first inning averages 235. The second inning has a 203 average. The highest total ever recorded on this field is 365/2.
New Zealand team Predicted XI
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper)
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra/Jimmy Neesham
- Mitchell Santner
- Ish Sodhi
- Trent Boult
- Matt Henry
- Lockie Ferguson
England Team Predicted XI
- Jos Buttler (captain, wicketkeeper)
- Bairstow
- David Malan
- Joe Root
- Ben Stokes/Harry Brook
- Liam Livingstone
- Moeen Ali
- Sam Curran
- Chris Woakes
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.
Discover more from SPORTS DRIBBLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
