International cricket's biggest tournament is scheduled to begin in India on Thursday. The clash between 2019 finalists England and New Zealand will kick off the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on the same day. The tournament will last for 46 days and the final on November 19 will see 10 teams battle it out for the men's One Day International (ODI) cricket championship.
Here's what you need to know about the seven big teams in the Cricket World Cup 2023:
Bangladesh
Their form has dipped after excellent results in 2021 and 2022 and the controversial omission of the legendary Tamim Iqbal could be a distraction. We predict that even in Asian conditions they will struggle to make the playoffs, although history shows that they will beat at least one big team. Taskin Ahmed that rarest of birds, a top-class Bangladeshi fast bowler. Stepped up to the next level under bowling coach Allan Donald, Taskin is tough, intelligent, experienced and ambitious. He played in Bangladesh's famous win in South Africa last year and is the undisputed leader of the attack.
Australia
Won four of the last six World Cups but suffered losses against South Africa and India last month. A formidable top order, including a reborn Mitch Marsh, will keep them going. Their team looks light on the bowling, especially the spin, and a lot will depend on how a good but aging attack handles the box more. Mitchell Starc is their most lethal bowler, overall record 49 wickets from 15. Even at 33, he has the pace, the angle - and the yorkers - to send the stumps flying with the new ball and the old one
India
The hosts, world number one and increasingly strong favourites; the next six weeks could be a long draw. India have batsmen who score double hundreds, not to mention singles, and a versatile attack that bowled Sri Lanka for 50 in the recent Asia Cup final. It is incomprehensible that they cannot reach the last four. If they do, the inexplicably poor record in the playoffs will come into sharp focus. Shubman Gill a brilliant batsman who produced high art in industrial quantities. Gill enters the World Cup with an amazing record, averaging 66 and a strike rate of 103 in 35 ODIs.
England
It is the last dance of the 24-carat generation that taught England to love white-ball cricket. England went into 2019 as the hosts and undisputed number one in the world. This year they are fifth - but most consider them second favourites. While Buttler leads the oldest team in the tournament along with New Zealand, injuries to key bowlers are a concern. But it will be a big surprise if such regular winners do not reach the last four. Dawid Malan an elegant, strangely unloved opener whose career record - 61 average, 96 strike rate - is the highest ever. Until last month, Malan had been relegated as a reserve batsman despite the record, but when he came into action against New Zealand, the scales fell in some eyes.
Pakistan
Pakistan have traditionally used the sublime and the ridiculous as a starting point to go further east and west, so anyone who knows how they will fare in this World Cup is either an idiot or a time traveler. They have a world number one in Babar Azam and, despite Naseem Shah's costly injury, a bowling attack that can burst into Fort Knox. Ranked second in the world, they were recently eliminated in the Asian Cup. Babar Azam a classy and remarkably consistent No.3. No: 1, not even Virat Kohli, has scored more ODI runs at a higher average, although not everyone is happy with Babar's strike rate. Whether he maintains his form when dealing with the pressure of commanding Pakistan in India could be crucial.
New Zealand
Runners-up in the last two tournaments and the only team to reach the semi-finals of the last four, but they seem to be a bit above their level. Just don't call them underrated because everyone does and therefore, they aren't. Trent Boult a masterful left-arm bowler who questions the batsmen with his skill and intelligence, especially with the new ball. Returned to the team in September after a year with the franchise and quickly took eight England wickets in two games.
Sri Lanka
Romped through the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe and looked the best of the four outsiders. They have since reached the final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan, although India then won by 50. Bowling is their strength, although the injury to brilliant leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is a major blow. Maheesh Theekshana a mysterious spinner with a bottomless toy box - watch out for his reverse carrom ball - and a delightfully intimidating fielder. Theekshana, who scored 21 points in 12 qualifiers, may miss the early games due to a hamstring problem. The fact that he is included despite the injury shows his importance.
