England vs New Zealand Prediction: India on 5th October. The teams played out in the finals of the 2019 World Cup and New Zealand would be looking for some revenge

England and New Zealand are going head to head in the first game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India on 5th October. The teams played out in the finals of the 2019 World Cup and New Zealand would be looking for some revenge. Who will win this game?

England form

England enters the 2023 World Cup with the intention of defending its championship. Currently holding the T20 World Cup title, another triumph in this tournament would solidify its status as one of the greatest white-ball teams in history. Over the past two years, England has participated in 24 ODI matches, emerging victorious in 12 of them. It's worth noting that England doesn't always field its full-strength team in ODI cricket, so these statistics should be considered in context.

One of England's significant advantages lies in the depth of its squad. The team boasts powerful batsmen capable of adapting to various positions, a plethora of all-rounders providing the captain with versatile options, and a selection of formidable fast bowlers.

When playing at a venue like Ahmedabad, England will aim to showcase its batting prowess. This entails pivotal roles for players like Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler, and Joe Root. Furthermore, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone can be deployed later in the innings to unleash devastating attacks on the opposition.

Ahmedabad's white-ball matches typically feature significant bounce and pace, which England is well aware of, having contested a T20 series at this venue in 2021. While Mark Wood's extra pace could pose a threat, it may also expose him to conceding runs. In this regard, we anticipate that Sam Curran and Chris Woakes will emerge as the bowlers most likely to inflict damage on the opposition.

England presents a formidable and well-rounded team with no glaring weaknesses, and they should approach their matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium with confidence.

England Predicted Lineup

Jos Buttler (C), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

New Zealand form

New Zealand can take comfort in having Kane Williamson back in their squad. His strong performances in both warm-up matches indicate that he is in excellent form and eager to compete. Historically, New Zealand may not enter World Cups as favourites, but they often leave a significant impact in most tournaments.

Over the past two years, New Zealand has participated in 36 matches, securing victory in 18 while suffering defeat in 15, with the remaining encounters ending in no results.

Their track record in India hasn't been the most impressive, with three matches played in the last five years, all of which ended in losses. However, this doesn't necessarily discount their chances against a formidable team like England. Instead, it sheds light on why bookmakers are offering favourable odds on them.

New Zealand's batting strength will largely depend on Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell. While Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, and others provide depth, the bulk of the runs are expected to come from the top three.

Their bowling attack showcases potency, with the return of Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson offering genuine pace. However, the remaining bowlers in the lineup can be vulnerable. On days when Ferguson is off-form, he may prove to be expensive. Additionally, if Boult fails to secure early wickets, New Zealand could encounter difficulties in containing the opposition's run-scoring.

New Zealand Predicted Lineup

Devon Conway, Will Young, Mark Chapman/Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (C), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

Expert betting tips

The team that wins the toss has historically enjoyed a 57% success rate at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Out of the 26 matches played, 14 have been won by teams batting first, so the advantage is not overwhelmingly significant. When dew is expected to be a factor, teams tend to opt for bowling first; otherwise, batting first is often the preferred choice. Fortunately, there is no rain in the forecast for match day in Ahmedabad.

The pitch is anticipated to be flat with a slight greenish tinge, offering good pace and generous bounce, typical for white-ball matches, especially in the opening match. Although the average score while batting first is just 242, we expect this benchmark to be easily surpassed.

Fast bowlers who can extract bounce from the surface are likely to have a notable impact, but overall, this contest should be dominated by the batsmen. In our assessment, England holds a distinct advantage over New Zealand in ODI cricket. Over the course of 50 matches, subtle differences begin to set teams apart, and we anticipate that this match will reflect those distinctions. England possesses a superior bowling lineup, more potent batting, and greater experience at the venue, which we believe will contribute to their victory.