The highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is all set to kick off on Thursday, September 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening clash will be a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final as the defending champions, England will go head-to-head against the runners-up New Zealand.
Both the teams, England and New Zealand have a fierce rivalry in the format. They have played 95 ODI matches, with England winning 45 and New Zealand winning 44. The teams have a star-studded squad and are major contenders to win the ICC Cricket World Cup. They will be keen to kick off the tournament on a winning note.
In this article, we take a look at the key player battles for the England vs New Zealand ICC ODI World Cup game.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Key Player Battles for ENG vs NZ
Joe Root vs Trent Boult
Joe Root has a good record against New Zealand in ODI cricket. He has scored 971 runs in 25 matches, at an average of 46.23, with three centuries and five fifties. He will hold the key for England in their opening encounter. However, his numbers against Trent Boult aren’t too great. The New Zealand pacer has dismissed Joe Root five times in ODI cricket and averages 18, with a strike rate of 86.5.
Tom Latham vs Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali and Tom Latham have played in seven ODI matches against each other. The England spinner has emerged as the winner in the contest on three occasions. Tom Latham has scored 54 runs against Moeen Ali in ODI cricket at a strike rate of 79.4. He hasn’t been in great form this year and might be tested against Moeen in the upcoming encounter.
Jos Buttler vs Tim Southee
The contest between Jos Buttler and Tim Southee is going to be an exciting one. Tim Southee has had success against Jos Buttler in the past in ODI cricket. However, he has also leaked runs against the England skipper. In 11 matches, Buttler has scored 98 runs against Tim Southee at a strike rate of 134.2. However, he has also been dismissed four times. It will be interesting to see how this mighty contest pans out, who emerges as the winner.
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