The wait is finally over, as cricket lovers from across the globe will turn their attention to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday for the opening match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
Ten nations will begin their six-week journey to win cricket's greatest prize, and the first match of the competition will see the reigning champions England get their title defence underway against New Zealand.
Match preview
© Reuters
English cricket is on the up, and since winning the ODI World Cup title four years ago, they have also gone on to secure the T20 World Cup with their unique 'Bazball' approach, proving that with great risk can come great reward.
If the English are able to secure another world title in this tournament, it would almost certainly cement their place as one of the greatest limited-overs teams, not just at present but possibly ever seen.
Over the last 24 months, Matthew Mott's side has played 24 ODI matches and won 12, but it should be noted that their uptick in performances really only began about a year ago.
Undoubtedly, England's major strength lies in their explosive lineup with powerful batters capable of playing versatile positions and a multitude of all-rounders, such as Ben Stokes, who are able to turn matches on their head singlehandedly.
The Three Lions have won each of their last five ODI's leading up to the World Cup, which included three wins against this opponent back in September when they claimed a 3-1 series win over the Black Caps back at home.
On a pitch that favours batsmen, England will look to flex their might with the willow here and are the current bookmakers' favourite to get the tournament started with a victory.
© Reuters
While New Zealand almost never enter any World Cup competition as the favourites to go on to lift the trophy, they have made a habit of having a significant impact in these competitions and will be looking to do so again this year.
The Kiwis have played a total of 36 ODI matches in the last two years and have managed a record of 18 wins and 15 losses, with the other three matches all ending in no-results.
Very few teams from outside the sub-continent can boast a good record in India in recent times, and New Zealand are no different as they have lost each of their last three matches in this country dating back to 2018.
While Gary Stead's side may not have the same type of firepower in their batting ranks as their opponents, they are not short of class in their top order, with the likes of Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Kane Williamson all capable of delivering match-winning performances when required.
New Zealand are currently the sixth favourite to win the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and while they are the clear underdogs in this match, you cannot completely write off the Kiwis from pulling off an opening-day upset.
Team News
© Reuters
Jos Buttler's side received a major boost with Stokes returning from international retirement, although the Test captain is expected to play only as a batsman as he continues to struggle with a troublesome knee injury.
That should mean that England will look to the likes of Mark Wood and Reece Topley to provide the pace at the top of the attack, while Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali will be the spin options later in the innings.
With Stuart Broad and James Anderson now retired, Chris Woakes has stepped up in a big way this year and will be looking to continue his incredible form in this competition.
New Zealand also received good news in the lead-up to the competition, with captain Williamson overcoming an injury that threatened his inclusion in the squad, and he marked his return with a match-winning 54 runs against Pakistan in the warm-up matches.
Tim Southee's return to the national team setup is another boost for the Kiwis, and he will lead a strong pace attack that includes Trent Boult while Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi provide the spin options.
England squad: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young
We say: England to win
There is no rain predicted in Ahmedabad, and the pitch is expected to provide good pace and bounce, which will suit England's batting style. With better batting quality and greater experience at this venue, we fancy the reigning champions to get the tournament started with a victory.
Devesh Jaganath
