Ahmedabad: The first match of the ODI World Cup 2023 will be played between England and New Zealand today (October 5) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams have an army of star players, and an exciting competition is expected.
Pitch and weather conditions
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is made of red and black soil, which provides both bounce and spin. The average score at this stadium is 235, and the highest score is 365 runs, made by South Africa against India in 2010.
The weather in Ahmedabad today is expected to be clear throughout the day, with no possibility of rain. The temperature is expected to be 32 degrees in the morning and 35 degrees in the afternoon. Winds can blow at a speed of 22 kilometres per hour during the day, but the match is not expected to be disrupted due to weather.
Probable Playing 11s
England: Jos Buttler (c and wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, and Reece Topley.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c and wk), Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, and Trent Boult.
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Will Stokes be Miss England’s Opener?
There is doubt about Ben Stokes playing for England in the opening match. Stokes is suffering from a hip niggle, and the England team management is taking a cautious approach with him.
Kane Williamson and Tim Southee to Miss New Zealand’s Opener
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and senior pacer Tim Southee are also sitting out of the opening match. Williamson is recovering from a shoulder injury, while Southee is recovering from a fractured thumb.
Both teams are favourites to win the World Cup.
Both England and New Zealand are among the favourites to win the ODI World Cup in 2023. England are the defending champions, while New Zealand were the runners-up in the 2019 edition.
The opening match between England and New Zealand is sure to be a thrilling contest. Both teams have world-class players, and the match is expected to go down to the wire.
