After completing their warm-up matches, England and New Zealand have now reached Ahmedabad for the World Cup opening match on Thursday (October 5). Both teams are coming off wins in their warm-up games, while England beat Bangladesh, New Zealand beat Pakistan, & South Africa in their first warm-up clashes. England’s one warm-up game got washed out against India.
After reaching Ahmedabad, both New Zealand and England will have training sessions before kicking off the WC campaign at the World’s largest cricket stadium – Narendra Modi Stadium. Last year’s finalists again enter this World Cup as favorites to win the 2023 edition of WC.
While last year’s final ended in a lot of drama, with England edging New Zealand on the boundary count, this year the opening WC promises to be a cracking affair.
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ENG vs NZ: Jos Buttler-led England aim to deliver first punch against resurgent Kiwis
It’s been four years since that epic 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s Stadium. A lot has changed since then. For starters, Eoin Morgan is not the England captain as he has retired. Jos Buttler has stepped into the leadership role and has already led England to a 2022 T20 World Cup win.
Undoubtedly, England enters this year’s WC as favorites as they have a well-rounded side that looks balanced and potent with bat and ball.England can bat right up to number 11. Even Mark Wood can give the ball a real whack at the backend.
It is a longish depth in the batting line-up that gives England an edge. While for NZ, it is bowling that is a notch ahead then batting. With Boult, Southee, and Matt Henry as the pacers, the Kiwis have one of the best attacks.
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