The much-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 is here, and cricket fans worldwide eagerly await the opening clash between England (ENG) and New Zealand (NZ). The stage is set at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Ahmedabad, known for its passion for cricket, is excitedly buzzing as it prepares to host the ENG vs. NZ clash. The match is scheduled to commence at 2 pm IST, and the coverage will begin on Ster Sports at 12.30 pm IST.
Tom Latham will captain New Zealand without the regular skipper, Kane Williamson, who is recovering from a knee injury sustained during the IPL earlier this year. New Zealand’s pace attack will be boosted by the return of Trent Boult, alongside Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.
On the other hand, England has announced its 15-member preliminary squad for the World Cup, with the surprise inclusion of Ben Stokes, who came out of retirement to play in the ODI World Cup. Jos Buttler will lead the ODI side, with Joe Root and Harry Brook among the key members.
Jason Roy and Jofra Archer will be missing from England’s World Cup squad. Both players played pivotal roles in England’s title-winning campaign in the previous World Cup. Archer is dealing with an elbow injury, while Roy doesn’t fit England’s plans.
England and New Zealand have had recent encounters, with a T20I and ODI series leading up to the World Cup. The T20I series ended in a draw, while England claimed the ODI series 3-1. These encounters have provided both teams valuable insights into each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
One critical factor that can influence a cricket match’s outcome is the weather. In Ahmedabad, the weather is expected to be hot and humid, quite different from Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram, where rain disrupted the warm-up games.
In the afternoon, the temperature is forecasted to reach around 35 degrees Celsius, with no rain chances. As the evening sets in, the temperature is expected to drop to 26 degrees Celsius, providing some relief to the players and spectators.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, known for its grandeur and size, is also one of the best batting tracks in India. Historically, the average first innings score at this ground is above 250, setting the stage for high-scoring contests. Spinners are expected to find purchase on this pitch, making them crucial in the middle overs. Dew might also become a factor, particularly with matches played in October-November.
England’s Probable XI: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c,wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
New Zealand’s Probable XI: 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
