England vs New Zealand: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips and Pitch Report

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to begin on October 5, with England facing New Zealand in the opening match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This will be a rematch of the thrilling 2019 final, which England won on boundary count after a tie in the super over. Both teams will be eager to start their campaign on a winning note and gain some momentum for the rest of the tournament.

Match Prediction

England are the defending champions and the number one ranked ODI team in the world. They have a formidable batting line-up, led by captain Jos Buttler, who scored a century in the second ODI against New Zealand earlier this year. They also have explosive hitters like Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes, who can take the game away from any opposition. Their bowling attack is also well-balanced, with David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Adil Rashid providing variety and experience.

New Zealand are the runners-up of the last two editions of the World Cup and the number three ranked ODI team in the world. They have a solid batting line-up, with Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor forming the core. They also have some hard-hitting all-rounders like Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme, who can provide some late fireworks. Their bowling attack is spearheaded by Trent Boult, who is one of the best swing bowlers in the world. They also have Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi to support him.

The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to be flat and good for batting. The average first innings score at this venue in ODIs is 286. The weather forecast for October 5 is sunny and hot, with no chances of rain. The team that wins the toss might opt to bat first and put up a big total on the board.

Considering the recent form, head-to-head record and team composition, England have a slight edge over New Zealand in this match. However, New Zealand are known for their fighting spirit and resilience, and they cannot be taken lightly. It will be a close contest between two evenly matched teams, but England might just edge it in the end.

Dream11 Team

Here is our suggested Dream11 team for this match:

Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler (c)

Batsmen: Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Devon Conway (vc), Kane Williamson

All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Daryl Mitchell

Bowlers: David Willey, Adil Rashid, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

Fantasy Tips

– Jos Buttler is our captain for this match. He is one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world and has a phenomenal record in ODIs. He has scored 402 runs in nine matches this year at an average of 57.43 and a strike rate of 104.14. He also scored a brilliant 103 off 88 balls against New Zealand in the second ODI in March. He will be eager to lead from the front and get his team off to a flying start.
– Devon Conway is our vice-captain for this match. He is one of the most consistent batsmen in world cricket right now and has been in sublime form across formats. He has scored 858 runs in nine ODIs at an average of 122.57 and a strike rate of 98. He also scored two centuries against Bangladesh earlier this year. He will be looking to continue his run-scoring spree and anchor the New Zealand innings.
– Jonny Bairstow is another batsman who can score big runs at the top of the order. He has scored 450 runs in nine matches this year at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 92.78. He also scored 97 off 112 balls against New Zealand in the third ODI in March. He will be keen to replicate his performance and give England a solid platform.
– Kane Williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world and the captain of New Zealand. He has scored 6178 runs in 154 ODIs at an average of 47.51 and a strike rate of 81.63. He also scored a magnificent 242 not out against Bangladesh in February. He will be looking to lead by example and guide his team with his calm and composed batting.
– Ben Stokes is one of the most valuable players in the world and a match-winner for England. He is a brilliant all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball. He has scored 2977 runs and taken 74 wickets in 99 ODIs. He also scored a crucial 72 off 64 balls and took three wickets against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final. He will be looking to repeat his heroics and make an impact in this match.
– Daryl Mitchell is another all-rounder who can make a difference in this match. He has scored 381 runs and taken nine wickets in 12 ODIs. He also scored a quick-fire 52 off 21 balls and took two wickets against India in the third T20I in September. He will be looking to provide some impetus to the New Zealand innings and chip in with some handy overs.
– David Willey is a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsmen. He has taken 63 wickets in 53 ODIs at an economy rate of 5.73. He also took three wickets each against New Zealand in the second and third ODIs in March. He will be looking to make early breakthroughs and put pressure on the New Zealand batting line-up.
– Adil Rashid is a leg-spinner who can turn the ball both ways and deceive the batsmen. He has taken 156 wickets in 109 ODIs at an economy rate of 5.61. He also took three wickets against New Zealand in the first ODI in March. He will be looking to exploit the spin-friendly conditions and keep the New Zealand batsmen in check.
– Trent Boult is one of the best bowlers in the world and the leader of the New Zealand attack. He has taken 172 wickets in 94 ODIs at an economy rate of 5.07. He also took three wickets against England in the second ODI in March. He will be looking to swing the ball at pace and trouble the England batsmen with his accuracy and variations.
– Ish Sodhi is another leg-spinner who can be a threat to the England batsmen. He has taken 57 wickets in 40 ODIs at an economy rate of 5.76. He also took four wickets against Bangladesh in the third ODI in May. He will be looking to partner with Boult and create some pressure on the England batting line-up.

Pitch Report

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