The ICC One-Day International World Cup 2023 is set to begin, and cricket fans all over the world are excited. Reigning champions, England will face the runners-up, New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 5, at 2:00 PM IST. All eyes are on the toss as the two cricketing titans prepare to meet off. According to recent data, New Zealand has a slight advantage in this category, leading 4-1 in their last five meetings. However, England’s captain Jos Buttler might look to break this trend in the World Cup’s opening encounter.
England will be eying to add a third World Cup to their shelf in four years, especially because they are also the current T20I World Cup holders. New Zealand will be concerned for more than one reason as it attempts to win the elusive ICC World Cup. The Kiwis will be missing their captain Kane Williamson, who played in the warm-ups, and senior pacer Tim Southee, both of whom are still recovering from surgery.
The Ahmedabad pitch is often favorable to batters, and England has a bionic batting lineup that enjoys skull-crushing their opponents. The fury around their batting has only increased after the return of Ben Stokes, who chose to come out of retirement for the big event.
However, Stokes will not be the only batting Cyclops the Kiwis will have to contend with on the field. England has dynamic batters like Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and Harry Brook, as well as more conventional batters Joe Root and Dawid Malan. Then there are all-rounders like Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, and Sam Curran, who were crucial for Australia in last year’s T20 World Cup.
Mark Wood’s quick pace and IPL experience offer England an advantage in the bowling department, and leg-spinner Adil Rashid will also be a vital cog in their bowling unit. On the other hand, England will be without their leading wicket-taker from the 2019 tournament, Jofra Archer.
Meanwhile, the Kiwis have routinely outperformed their opponents in ICC competitions. Daryl Mitchell’s form, along with the solid Devon Conway at the top, will give New Zealand comfort, but stand-in captain Tom Latham’s lean run may be cause for concern. They do, however, have some strength boosters like James Neesham and Glenn Phillips. Will Young is having a terrific year in ODIs, scoring 578 runs in 14 matches and he can provide the Kiwis with a viable option at No.3. The Black Caps’ pacers Matt Henry, veteran Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson can make their presence felt.
