India and England Prepare for ICC World Cup 2023 Warm-Up Clash
The cricket world is buzzing with excitement as the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 approaches. Ten teams are gearing up for this prestigious tournament, with each team playing two official 50-over contests in the week leading up to the World Cup’s commencement on October 5. These warm-up matches are set to be held in three different cities across India.
In this warm-up match, all 15 players from each squad will have the opportunity to showcase their skills. Players returning from injuries or looking to find their form will be closely watched.
The warm-up match between India and England is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Cricket enthusiasts can catch the action live on the Star Sports Network in India, while the match will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
Jos Buttler Leads England’s Defending Champions
Among the cricketing giants participating, India and England are preparing for a highly-anticipated warm-up match. England, the defending champions, arrived in Guwahati for their warm-up games. Jos Buttler leads the squad, which includes the return of Ben Stokes from ODI retirement and the late inclusion of Harry Brook.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Return Strengthens India’s Squad
In a significant squad change, India named off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as a replacement for the injured spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel. Axar’s quadriceps tear ruled him out, making way for the experienced Ashwin, who showcased his skills with four wickets in the recent series against Australia.
The warm-up match between India and England is scheduled for Saturday, September 30, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Cricket enthusiasts can catch the action live on the Star Sports Network in India, while the match will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
Both teams have their strengths. England boasts a batting lineup that can go deep, capable of batting until No. 10. In contrast, India’s squad includes powerhouses like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya.
A Marathon Journey: England’s Travel Challenges
England’s journey to Guwahati was far from straightforward, with nearly 38 hours of travel from London, including long layovers in Dubai and Mumbai. However, they find solace in staying in Guwahati for both their warm-up matches, unlike India, who will travel down south to Thiruvananthapuram for their second warm-up against the Netherlands on October 2.
England’s Recent Success Against India in ICC Tournaments
Notably, England has had success against India in recent ICC tournaments. They handed India a ten-wicket thrashing in the T20 World Cup semi-final last year. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, England was the only team to defeat India in the league stage.
A significant storyline is Ashwin’s return to the ODI squad, despite limited recent appearances. His inclusion adds depth to India’s batting order, and his competition with Shardul Thakur for the No. 8 spot will be a point of interest.
Focus on Warm-Up Match Performance and Squad Dynamics
As the two cricketing powerhouses gear up for their warm-up match in Guwahati, cricket fans eagerly anticipate how these teams will perform in the lead-up to the ICC World Cup 2023. The journey has been long and challenging, but both teams are determined to make their mark in this highly competitive tournament.
England’s World Cup Squad 2023
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
India’s World Cup Squad 2023
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah,Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
