World Cup 2023, ENG vs NZ: New Zealand eye 2019 final revenge vs Jos Buttler’s England in tournament opener

2019 World Cup finalists England and New Zealand will play the opener of the ODI World Cup 2023 on Thursday, 5 October. England, the defending champions come into World Cup unanimously as one of the greatest white-ball sides in the world. Despite not being in the top three rankings in the ODI, the Jos Buttler side is being looked at as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

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2015 and 2019 finalist New Zealand, on the other hand, once again come into an ICC tournament, where they are not the favourites to lift the trophy, but as the dark horse in the tournament. To be fair, New Zealand have learnt to live with that tag, and have been one of the best surprise packages over the last decade.

This time, however, it might take a little bit more for them to match their previous heroics as the ageing superstars will be struggling to remain at hundred per cent through the tournament.

New Zealand are one of the team that have major injury concerns to their star players. Fast bowler Tim Southee has yet not recovered from his broken arm while Kane Williamson is still away from full fitness after returning from an ACL injury.

The task will be difficult as they face white-ball world champions England. They are the only team to hold the ODI and T20 World Cup together and have done it by playing a certain brand of cricket.

England have their own injury issues to take care as well, with Jos Buttler revealing that Ben Stokes is currently suffering from a hip injury and will not play till he is 100 per cent fit.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The two teams have starkly different batting prowess. England are explosive and have the ability to bat very deep. On the other hand, New Zealand will rely on the experience on Williamson and hope that their top 7 batters can get them to a safe score, which later the bowling attack can defend.

New Zealand’s reliance with the ball is justified, given they have a certain mystique named Trent Boult. After staying a year away from international cricket, the left-arm pace bowler came back to play the World Cup and destroyed England with the new ball in the recently concluded 4-match series. In the warm-up matches, Matt Henry has also shown encouraging signs, which makes New Zealand one of the most varied pace bowling attacks that there is in the tournament.

Pitch and Conditions

The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch in Ahmedabad has generally been a batting paradise. While it is expected that the wickets will be a little balanced in the ODI World Cup, but that remains to be seen.

The weather conditions will remain hot and sunny in Ahmedabad with near to zero expectation of rainfall.

Players to Watch

Focus will be on England batters Jonny Bairstow and David Malan who come into the World Cup with a lot of promise. Malan in particular will have a lot riding on this tournament given he kept his place despite the resurgence of Harry Brook in the squad.

For New Zealand, things will be riding on Trent Boult, who could prove to be the point of difference between the sides with his new ball spell.

Predicted Playing XIs

2019 World Cup finalists England and New Zealand will play the opener of the ODI World Cup 2023 on Thursday, 5 October. England, the defending champions come into World Cup unanimously as one of the greatest white-ball sides in the world. Despite not being in the top three rankings in the ODI, the Jos Buttler side is being looked as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

2015 and 2019 finalist New Zealand, on the other hand, once again come into an ICC tournament, where they are not the favourites to lift the trophy, but as the dark horse in the tournament. To be fair, New Zealand have learnt to live with that tag, and have been one of the best surprise packages over the last decade.

This time, however, it might take a little bit more for them to match their previous heroics as the ageing superstars will be struggling to remain at a hundred per cent through the tournament.

New Zealand are one of the team that have major injury concerns to their star players. Fast bowler Tim Southee has not yet recovered from his broken arm while Kane Williamson is still away from full fitness after returning from an ACL injury.

The task will be difficult as they face white-ball world champions England. They are the only team to hold the ODI and T20 World Cup together and have done it by playing a certain brand of cricket.

England have their own injury issues to take care of as well, with Jos Buttler revealing that Ben Stokes is currently suffering from a hip injury and will not play till he is 100 per cent fit.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The two teams have starkly different batting prowess. England are explosive and have the ability to bat very deep. On the other hand, New Zealand will rely on the experience of Williamson and hope that their top 7 batters can get them to a safe score, which later the bowling attack can defend.

New Zealand’s reliance with the ball is justified, given they have a certain mystique named Trent Boult. After staying a year away from international cricket, the left-arm pace bowler came back to play the World Cup and destroyed England with the new ball in the recently concluded 4-match series. In the warm-up matches, Matt Henry has also shown encouraging signs, which makes New Zealand one of the most varied pace bowling attacks that there is in the tournament.

Pitch and Conditions

The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch in Ahmedabad has generally been a batting paradise. While it is expected that the wickets will be a little balanced in the ODI World Cup, but that remains to be seen.

The weather conditions will remain hot and sunny in Ahmedabad with near to zero expectation of rainfall.

Players to Watch

Focus will be on England batters Jonny Bairstow and David Malan who come into the World Cup with a lot of promise. Malan in particular will have a lot riding on this tournament given he kept his place despite the resurgence of Harry Brook in the squad.

For New Zealand, things will be riding on Trent Boult, who could prove to be the point of difference between the sides with his new ball spell.

Predicted Playing XIs

New Zealand

Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c/wk), Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham/Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood