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(Courtesy :Â Twitter)
In the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, England will play New Zealand.
The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup is about to start. The top ten teams will face off against one another in the super event, which will feature 48 games overall. The competition will begin on October 5 and conclude on November 19 with the finals. A virtual rematch of the finals from the previous edition will serve as the tournament's first match.
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The largest cricket venue in the world, Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi venue, will host this match between England and New Zealand. While New Zealand should never be discounted, England will likely be the favourite. However, the English cricket team is performing admirably, and they intend to begin their championship defence with a victory. Here, we'll discuss the anticipated starting lineup for England in the opening game.
ENG vs NZ: England’s Predicted playing XI vs New Zealand
1. Dawid Malan :-
Dawid Malan. (Image Source: Getty Images)The addition of Dawid Malan to the England team has been fantastic. He will start the innings and did a fantastic job at the top. With three hundreds and three half-centuries, the left-hander has amassed 591 runs in nine ODIs in 2023 at a remarkable average of 73.87, and he will be hoping to keep it up.
2. Adil Rashid :-
Adil Rashid. (Image Source: Getty Images)
Adil Rashid, a seasoned leg-spinner, will be the one to take wickets and contain the hitters in the middle overs as England's main spinner. In 2023, Rashid has taken the most wickets for England. He has 15 wickets in only 7 games, and on Indian conditions that favour spinners, he will be very important.
3. Jonny Bairstow :-
Johny Bairstow. (Image Source: Getty Images)
An aggressive top opener who can take on any bowling attack and play on every surface, Jonny Bairstow. For England, the right-hander has consistently batted first and has put up some incredible stats. He will attempt to immediately apply pressure to the Kiwi bowlers in order to give England a strong start in the first game.
4. Mark Wood :-
Mark Wood. (Image Source: Getty Images)
One of the quickest bowlers in the world right now is Mark Wood. And he is one of the select few who can consistently bowl at speeds of above 150 km/h, smashes the bowl hard, and has a pace that will frighten any batter. Because of this, he is quite challenging to manage. The top pacer for England and the greatest danger to New Zealand will be Wood.
5. Joe Root :-
Joe Root. (Image Source: Getty Images)
In a lineup with so many power hitters, Joe Root is the ideal No. 3. He has consistently been their top batter in all formats throughout the years, and he will be important in the upcoming competition. It may be problematic for New Zealand since Root will be acting as the anchor to build the groundwork for others to play freely.
6. Ben Stokes :-
Ben Stokes. (Image Source: ECB/Twitter)
Having Ben Stokes back, England's chances of winning the championship have increased. This is due to the fact that he excels under pressure on the biggest stage. Stokes will be aiming for something akin to what he did in 2019 when he led England to the finals against New Zealand. Stokes, who is in excellent form, recently scored 182 against New Zealand in an ODI series. Ben Stokes experienced hip discomfort prior to the game; his participation will be decided before the game.
7. Jos Buttler (c) :-
Jos Buttler. (Image Source: ICC)
In order to win the game for his team, Jos Buttler will bat in the middle. Buttler is capable of destroying any bowling attack since the ground does not favour the bowlers. He is a one-man show, and as captain, he will try to give a captain's knock to help his team get off to a winning start. Buttler has a strike rate of 110.48 and has scored 548 runs in 10 innings in 2023.
8. Moeen Ali :-
Moeen Ali. (Image Source: Getty Images)
Moeen Ali is an important player for England with the bat and the ball and has years of experience playing in India. He was a member of the team that won the World Cup in 2019 and he plans to play another significant role. His bowling will be crucial for England as well. In ODIs in 2023, Moeen has scored 209 runs and claimed 11 wickets.
9. Liam Livingstone :-
Liam Livingstone. (Image Source: Getty Images)
On this team, Liam Livingstone is the game-changer. He is among the most powerful hitters when it comes to smashing big sixes, and starting at position no. 7 will allow him to attack the bowling right away. Livingstone has 186 runs scored in four innings and, if he gets going, can alter the game's outcome in a matter of a few overs.
10. Sam Curran :-
Sam Curran. (Image Source: Getty Images)
Sam Curran, who led England to victory in the T20 World Cup 2022, will play a significant role in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as well. He is a true all-arounder who excels in both areas and can win games. Due to his IPL experience in India, Curran is familiar with how the ball behaves there. In India, his bowling will be more crucial for England.
11. Reece Topley :-
Reece Topley. (Image Source: Twitter)
The best wicket-taking option for any side is the left-arm angle. That talent set is provided to England by Reece Topley. When the ball is swinging, the tall left-armer is a wicket-taking bowler. He then bowls in the end to stop the batters from scoring runs. His height makes it somewhat challenging to escape New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
