England vs New Zealand ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Match 1 Preview

On October 5, England is set to face New Zealand in the inaugural match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the renowned Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While England looks formidable with a five-match winning streak, New Zealand is also riding high with back-to-back victories. The encounter promises an exciting start to the World Cup.

Recent Form

England enters the World Cup riding on the wave of five consecutive victories. Their recent form was on display against Bangladesh, chasing a total with ease in a rain-affected warm-up match. Conversely, New Zealand has also shown mettle, particularly with their recent triumph over South Africa in a match that unfortunately saw rain interruptions.

Pitch Report

Narendra Modi Stadium promises a treat for batsmen, presenting a friendly wicket. Batsmen can capitalize by rotating the strike and meticulously building their innings. Contrarily, fast bowlers will need crafty variations to make an impact. Spinners, though, have an advantage; the wicket’s spin-friendly nature can pose challenges for the opposition batsmen.

Weather Forecast

Match day in Ahmedabad is forecasted to have cloudy skies with the mercury possibly hitting 31°C. A high humidity level of 70% and gentle winds at 3.3 km/h might affect the game dynamics. Furthermore, teams and fans alike will have an eye on the heavens as there's a 38% chance of rain playing spoilsport.

Team Line-ups

England:

Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jos Butler, Mark Wood, Reece Topley, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes