The highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has kicked off with a thrilling encounter between England and New Zealand at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Stand-in skipper Tom Latham, leading the Kiwis in the absence of Kane Williamson, won the toss and opted to bowl first in the tournament opener.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
This match carries the weight of history, as it is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, where these two teams produced a nail-biting contest that culminated in a Super Over at Lord’s, ultimately decided by the boundary count. Cricket fans around the world are hoping for another epic encounter.
Team Line-ups
New Zealand, unfortunately, finds themselves without several key players for this game. Regular captain Kane Williamson is sidelined due to injury, and Tim Southee is still in recovery mode following thumb surgery. Additionally, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and pace bowler Lockie Ferguson are missing, with Ferguson nursing back stiffness.
On the other side, England is missing their star all-rounder, Ben Stokes, who is not part of the playing XI due to a hip niggle.
Playing XI
England Playing XI:
- Jonny Bairstow
- Dawid Malan
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler (w/c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Moeen Ali
- Sam Curran
- Chris Woakes
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
New Zealand Playing XI:
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Rachin Ravindra
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (w/c)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner
- James Neesham
- Matt Henry
- Trent Boult
As the action unfolds at the Narendra Modi Stadium, cricket fans worldwide are in for a treat. Stay tuned for live updates and in-depth analysis as these two cricketing powerhouses battle it out for supremacy in the Cricket World Cup 2023.
