Key occasions
2nd over: England 12-0 (Bairstow 11, Malan 1) Henry beats Malan with the subsequent two deliveries, each angled throughout the left-hander. That’s sensible bowling as a result of he knew Malan would have the inswinger in thoughts. Malan will get a bat on the final three deliveries however he can’t get off strike, in order that’s the primary maiden of the World Cup, and a fairly advantageous one too.
“Seeing an empty stadium for a World Cup opener is galling,” writes Dravidian. “But there are many reasons for it, and none of them are a waning interest in cricket in India, to my mind. This is what happens when you build an absurd stadium in a non-cricketing centre, name it after the PM and then are forced to hold marquee matches there instead of in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata or Chennai. Anyway, rant over (for now).”
Malan will not be out! It was going excessive, the truth is, so New Zealand lose a assessment. But it was a beautiful supply from Matt Henry, who’s such a harmful new-white-ball bowler.
New Zealand assessment for LBW towards Malan! Matt Henry’s first ball swings again to hit Dawid Malan on the pad in entrance of center. Kumar Dharmasena indicators it’s too excessive however Tom Latham has taken issues upstairs. This is shut however I reckon it’ll be umpire’s name.
1st over: England 12-0 (Bairstow 11, Malan 1) Before this sport, Jos Buttler confused that England aren’t “defending” the World Cup; they’re right here to win it. Jonny Bairstow had simply made that time much more eloquently by flicking the second ball fo the match for six! It was too straight from Boult, striving for the killer inswinger, and Bairstow pinged it into the group at backward sq. leg. I’d think about that’s the earliest six in a World Cup.
There some mild inswing Boult, however Bairstow has began fantastically and occasions the fifth ball down the bottom for 4. Conway’s knee received caught within the pitch as he tried to save lots of the boundary. It appeared horrible – all of us bear in mind Simon Jones on the Gabba – however he appears okay.
The 2023 World Cup will start with Trent Boult bowling to Jonny Bairstow. Mind the hole.
The groups line up for the anthems on a sweltering scorching day. The Narendra Modi Stadium, which holds about half a trillion, is sort of empty.
1. Head-to-head knowledge is an untapped goldmine of cricket protection.
2. The first few overs of the 2023 World Cup could possibly be very fascinating.
Trent Boult’s ODI Bowling Average v England’s possible prime three:
v Jonny Bairstow – 20.25 (4 wickets)
v Dawid Malan – 11.00 (one wicket)
v Joe Root – 18.00 (5 wickets)#CWC2023— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 5, 2023
“The two Dad’s Army teams kick off the competition, but am I the only one not overly positive about England’s chances in this tournament?” wonders Kevin Wilson. “Yes, they’ve been the best white-ball side in the world (probably) for the last few years, but I wonder whether they’re past their peak, and it could all unravel in this tournament. India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa are all going to be the mix, and in the subcontinent, even the other three Asian sides will be more of a challenge.”
This is the thrilling factor – no person actually is aware of. There’s a good probability that not less than one of many three older groups (England, New Zealand, Australia) will discover it a match too far. There’s additionally an opportunity that, like Australia’s geriatricos in 2007, England could have an excessive amount of energy expertise of profitable for the remaining.
On at this time of all days, you possibly can by no means have sufficient World Cup quizzes. Here’s one other from our outdated pal Steven Pye.
Is rain going to be a factor? Very probably. India are this yr’s hosts, and although October is in the direction of the tail-end of their wet season, in a number of the host cities it’s a way away from being dry.
World Cup quiz!
So, 114 gents have appeared for England at an ODI World Cup. How many are you able to identify?
The groups in full
England Bairstow, Malan, Root, Brook, Buttler (c/wk), Livingstone, Ali, Curran, Woakes, Rashid, Wood.
New Zealand Young, Conway, Ravindra, Mitchell, Latham (c/wk), Phillips, Chapman, Neesham, Santner, Ravindra, Henry, Boult.
Team information: Stokes, Williamson, Ferguson out injured
As anticipated, Harry Brook replaces the injured Ben Stokes, and Sam Curran is most well-liked to Reece Topley as third seamer. The pacy Lockie Ferguson additionally misses out via harm for New Zealand; that’s a blow as a result of they don’t have any like-for-like substitute of their squad. Instead they’ve beefed up their batting by together with Mark Chapman. It appears to be like like Rachin Ravindra will bat at No3, retaining the seat heat for Kane Williamson.
New Zealand win the toss and bowl
The stand-in captain Tom Latham has put England in, which implies an early trial by Trent Boult for the highest order. Dew may additionally be an element, in order that appears like a good toss to win. Jos Buttler mentioned England would have bowled however that he “can’t wait to get going”.
A team-by-team information to the World Cup
Look out for Bas de Leede, who produced essentially the most astonishing efficiency towards Scotland to safe qualification for the Netherlands.
“Do you reckon we will smash runscoring records at this World Cup?” writes Dravidian. “I feel like the game has changed dramatically since the last one – England being one of the drivers of change.”
A rating of 500 is unquestionably on the desk, though I’m undecided it’ll occur this time. I don’t suppose batting has modified that a lot since 2019, besides possibly on the dying, however there must be extra flat and/or quick pitches than in England in 2019. There have been no scores of 400 4 years in the past; I’d be stunned if that’s the case right here.
This video is beautifully finished, as at all times, however in reality England – Dawid Malan and David Willey apart – haven’t finished a lot since 2019. That’s not a criticism; it was a largely unavoidable consequence of Covid, scheduling and Bazball.
Even so, the distinction in preparation is fascinating. In 2019, England, with no success to fall again on, have been determined to enter the match as world No1. This time, partly out of necessity, there’s a relaxed, it’ll-be-alright-on-the-night perspective. It labored in Australia final yr, and there wasn’t actually another.
The dignity and humour with which New Zealand accepted defeat (sic) in 2019 turns into extra spectacular with each passing soccer match yr.
Who do you fancy? Despite their wretched latest document in ICC knockout matches, I wrestle to see past India. I feel they’ll construct up sufficient momentum within the group stage to cut back the psychological influence of that poor document.
Early staff information
England are more likely to be with out Ben Stokes, who has a peedie hip drawback, so Harry Brook will come into the aspect. No official phrase but on the seamers, although it’s possible that both Sam Curran or Reece Topley will begin alongside Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.
New Zealand are lacking an equally essential participant, their captain Kane Williamson, who’s managing the intense knee harm he suffered on the IPL. Their prime order appears to be like lightish in his absence however they’ve a cracking, different bowling assault, led by the majestic Trent Boult.
The first e mail of the 2023 World Cup!
“Morning Rob, what a day,” writes Guy Hornsby. “The strange situation of a match I’m really excited about but also we all know can’t possibly match up to its predecessor. But it should be a cracker. The two teams of (mostly) Expendables, back for one last mission. Topley or Wood, Mo or Curran? Black Caps minus Williamson and Southee and with some newer hit-or-bust batters. Oddly a loss probably won’t hurt either team, but a drubbing might. Bring on the pain!”
I reckon a loss will damage both staff, even at this stage – it appears to be like a really tight squeeze for the semi-final.
Read Simon Burnton’s match preview
Preamble
So the story begins. Ten groups, 45 days, 48 matches and never a single boundary countback: the 2023 World Cup is upon us. The hosts are normally concerned on opening evening, however for the BCCI’s chief schedulers, a repeat of the best ever ODI remaining* proved irresistible.
The match begins with England v New Zealand in Ahmedabad – simply because it did, a bit weirdly, the final time the hosts weren’t concerned within the first sport. That was in 1996, when England have been dwelling on a distinct white-ball planet (or, reasonably, commuting from Planet Red Ball). This yr they begin as holders of each white-ball trophies and second favourites behind the hosts India.
The format – everyone performs everyone, with the highest 4 going via to the semi-finals – makes this World Cup a marathon, not a dash. But it’s nonetheless essential to get out of the blocks apace. England know from the (mercifully transitory) horrors of 2019 that an early defeat is usually a vital sliding door.
England and New Zealand have the oldest squads within the match, a barely droopy nostril forward of Australia. That comes with apparent advantages and potential weaknesses. Over the subsequent six weeks, beginning at this time, we’ll discover out the place they’re in relation to the highest of the hill.
England already sit proudly on the prime desk of nice white-ball groups. If they win this match, they’ll have a case for being the best of all of them.
The match begins at 9.30am BST, 2pm in Ahmedabad.
* Or ought to that finale, given the relative poverty of the primary 90 overs?
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