The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will kick off on October 5, with the first match between England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This will be a rematch of the thrilling final of the 2019 edition, where England won the trophy on boundary count after a tie in the super over. Both teams are among the favourites to lift the cup this time, and this match will set the tone for their campaigns.
England and New Zealand have a close head-to-head record in ODIs, with England having a slight edge with 45 wins as compared to New Zealand’s 44. Two matches have been tied, while four have been abandoned. In World Cups, they have met 10 times, with each team winning five matches. However, England have won the last two encounters, including the 2019 final.
England have announced a strong squad for the World Cup, led by Eoin Morgan. They have a formidable batting line-up, with Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes among the top names. Their bowling attack is also well-balanced, with Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Adil Rashid as the main weapons. They also have some exciting all-rounders like Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Tom Curran to provide depth and variety.
New Zealand have also named a solid squad for the tournament, captained by Kane Williamson. They have a reliable top order, with Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham as the key batsmen. Their middle order is also packed with power-hitters like Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner. Their bowling department is led by Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson, who can exploit any conditions. They also have some quality spinners like Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel to complement their pace attack.
Both teams are evenly matched on paper, and it will be a close contest between them. However, England have a slight advantage in terms of form and confidence, as they have won their last two series against Pakistan and India. They also have more experience of playing in Indian conditions, as they recently toured there for four Tests, five T20Is and three ODIs. They will be hoping to continue their momentum and start their World Cup campaign on a high note.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have not played much cricket in recent times, as they had to cancel their tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan due to security concerns. They have also not played an ODI since March 2020, when they beat Australia 3-0 at home. They will be looking to shake off the rust and get back into rhythm as soon as possible. They will also be motivated to avenge their loss in the 2019 final and prove their mettle on the big stage.
Considering all these factors, we predict that England will win this match by a narrow margin.
Based on our match prediction and analysis, here are some betting tips that you can consider for this match:
The first match of the World Cup 2023 between England and New Zealand will be a blockbuster clash that will set the tone for the tournament. Both teams are strong contenders for the title, and they will be eager to start with a win. However, we predict that England will edge past New Zealand in a close encounter, based on their recent form and experience.
Q: When and where will the match be played?
A: The match will be played on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Q: What time will the match start?
A: The match will start at 2 pm local time (8:30 am GMT).
Q: Where can I watch the match live?
A: You can watch the match live on Star Sports in India, Sky Sports in the UK, Fox Sports in Australia, SuperSport in South Africa, and Willow TV in the USA. You can also stream the match online on Hotstar, Sky Go, Foxtel, SuperSport app, and Willow TV app.
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