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Matthew Childs/Action Images via ReutersEngland vs New Zealand: In the ICC World Cup 2023 opener on Thursday, defending champions England will take on the runners-up of the previous tournament, New Zealand.
The ICC One Day International (ODI) World Cup will continue where it left off on Thursday when defending champions England take on last year’s runners-up New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament. In 2019, the defending world champions England faced up against the Black Caps in the grandest of finals at the historic Lord’s. Even after the Super Over, there was still no difference between the two teams after the summit match ended in a tie.
England won the 50-over competition four years ago for the first time, thanks to the boundary countback rule. At the 134,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium in India, New Zealand will play for the first time since the contentious World Cup championship match against England. Eoin Morgan, the World Cup-winning captain, has already left the format, but veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes was added to the team after Morgan reversed his decision to retire.
Stokes won’t play against New Zealand in the World Cup opener.
Stokes provided England with the game-winning performance in the thrilling World Cup final of 2019. England captain Jos Buttler said that Stokes is questionable for the opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023 against the Kiwis because the all-rounder has a hip ailment.
Additionally, the Englishman was absent from the last training session held in Ahmedabad by the reigning world champions. Tim Southee, a pace ace, and captain Kane Williamson won’t be available for New Zealand.
FORM GUIDE (last five completed matches)
England – WWWWL
New Zealand – WWLLL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD OVERALL (in ODIs):
Matches: 95
New Zealand win: 44
England win: 44
No result: 4
Tied: 3
Did you realize?
In its last 10 matches with the Kiwis, world champion England has won four times and lost five times. The European giants had suffered five World Cup defeats to the Kiwis before to England’s victory over them in the group stage encounter in Chester-le-Street in 2019.
The last time New Zealand defeated England in a World Cup match was in 2015. After winning the bilateral series at home last month by a score of 3-1 over New Zealand, England is also headed to its World Cup debut. Trent Boult, a prominent pacer, needs three more victories to reach 200 in ODIs.
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