England to kick-off Cricket World Cup defence with New Zealand rematch
E
ngland will begin their Cricket World Cup defence with a rematch of the epic 2019 closing towards New Zealand after the schedule for this 12 months’s event in India was lastly confirmed simply three months out from its begin date.
Jos Buttler’s aspect will open the competitors in Ahmedabad on October 5, with the ultimate additionally happening on the metropolis’s 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19.
The similar floor is scheduled to carry England’s pool stage assembly with Australia on November 4 in addition to the blockbuster conflict of rivals Pakistan and India on October 15.
Pakistan had at one stage threatened to boycott the event amid long-standing political hostilities between the nations, which have been stoked by India’s refusal to journey to its neighbour for the autumn’s Asia Cup. However, all 9 of Pakistan’s pool stage matches are scheduled to be performed in India.
The host nation will wait till the fourth day of the event to get their marketing campaign underway with a showpiece towards Australia in Chennai on October 8.
The format for the competitors is similar as in 2019, with ten groups – two of that are but to qualify – taking part in in a single round-robin group and the highest 4 advancing to the semi-finals, which shall be performed in Mumbai and Kolkata.
England’s schedule poses one thing of a logistical nightmare for travelling followers, with Buttler’s aspect attributable to play their 9 group matches throughout eight completely different cities. All however a type of matches is slated as a day-night recreation with a 2pm native begin time, mid-morning within the UK.
There can even be various official warm-up matches performed in India, whereas England have residence ODI collection towards New Zealand and Ireland deliberate for his or her build-up in September earlier than heading to the sub-continent.