The Ultimate Guide to the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup

The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will begin on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Ten teams will battle it out for the Cricket World Cup trophy. England go into the One Day International tournament as the reigning champions.

The English defeated New Zealand in 2019 at Lord’s in a dramatic Super Over. Now, England aims to keep their crown as the world’s best ODI cricket team. This year’s tournament will take place in India, arguably cricket’s hottest country for the sport.

The 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup will unfold over the course of six weeks. The final will be played in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19. Which teams will survive the group stage to reach the semi-finals and the final?

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Introduction to the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup debuted in 1975. The inaugural tournament took place at Lord’s in London, with eight teams battling for the World Cup trophy. The West Indies won the first of two World Cup trophies, defeating Australia in the final by 17 runs.

The West Indies won the trophy again in 1979 and appeared in the final once more in 1983. India overcame the West Indies for the trophy in the third edition of the tournament. Despite being a cricket superpower, India did not win another Cricket World Cup until 2011.

Australia is the most successful team in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup history. The Aussies are five-time champions. Australia’s last World Cup win was in 2015. Although England is considered the home of cricket and played host to the first three World Cup tournaments, the English have won the competition just once.

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Winners:

Tournament Overview

The Cricket World Cup features 10 teams, with each team playing nine ODI matches. The group stage will have 45 total matches. The teams are in a single table format and the top four teams in the standings qualify for the semi-finals.

The first-place team in the standings will play the fourth-place team, and the second-place team will play the third-place team in a single ODI match. The winner of the two semi-finals will progress to the final match on November 19.

The tournament will feature:

• Afghanistan
• Australia
• Bangladesh
• England
• India
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka

New Zealand was the best team in the Super League, leading to their automatic qualification. The Kiwis qualified for the tournament via the Super League along with England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa. The Netherlands and Sri Lanka were forced to go through the qualifier playoffs. The teams survived against the likes of the West Indies, Scotland, and Oman to reach the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The schedule for the tournament is:

• Group Stage – October 5 to November 12
• Semi-finals – November 15 to November 16
• Final – November 19

Host Country and Venues

India will host the 2023 edition of the World Cup. The country previously co-hosted the 1987, 1996, and 2011 versions. It is the first time India has hosted the tournament on its own.

Ten stadiums were selected to host matches throughout the tournament. Matches will be played across the entire country, with teams playing in front of large crowds.

All 10 stadiums were granted money by the BCCI to upgrade the venues for the Cricket World Cup. Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium will host the semi-final matches. The Cricket World Cup final will be played at the 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium. Each stadium will host five matches except the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

Key Contenders

England is the defending champion and goes into the tournament as one of the favourites. The English are coming off a dramatic final Ashes test win over Australia to draw the series. The 2019 World Cup was England’s only win in the tournament’s history, and it took a Super Over to defeat New Zealand.

India is the host of the tournament and goes into the Cricket World Cup as the favourites. Team India last won the competition in 2011. India was co-host for the tournament that year along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The team won the final in Mumbai, defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets. Playing on home soil could inspire India to win.

New Zealand was the beaten finalist in the 2015 and 2019 tournaments. The Kiwis will be a difficult team to defeat along with neighbours Australia. The Aussies are coming off their Ashes draw with England. Although the team imploded toward the end, the World Cup could bring out the best in the five-time winners.

Pakistan is another favourite to win the event. The Pakistanis reached the final on two occasions 1992 and 1999, winning the former. Since claiming the trophy at the end of the last century, Pakistan has experienced a drought in the tournament.

South Africa and Sri Lanka are considered underdogs going into the 2023 tournament. Neither team qualified for the semi-finals in the previous World Cup. One of the two teams could spring a surprise.

Players to Watch

New Zealand’s chances could rest on the bat of captain Kane Williamson. The Kiwis skipper is coming off an ACL injury, which he suffered during the IPL. He is training in preparation for the World Cup.

India captain Rohit Sharma is aiming to put the pressure to the side and lead the team to its second World Cup win. Sharma is one of the top players in the IPL but will suit up for the longer-format of the ODI tournament. He could lead the Indians to glory.

If Sri Lanka is to make an impact on the Cricket World Cup, it will need Wanindu Hasaranga to continue bowling well. Hasaranga was outstanding in the March qualifiers, taking the most wickets with 22 at an average of 12.90 per wicket. The bowler had excelled at the previous T20 World Cups and is now aiming to take more scalps in India with longer spells.

England captain Ben Stokes couldn’t heave his country to an Ashes series victory, but is coming out of ODI retirement in aid of his country once more. His explosiveness with the bat and bowling prowess could prove crucial/ Stokes and Jos Buttler are two of the key components of England’s title defence.

Understanding the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Betting

Cricket fans have a variety of betting markets to select from for this year’s World Cup. Bookmakers will offer pre-tournament markets and match betting for each game. Here is a look at some of the most popular bets:

Outright winner

The outright winner bet is a wager on a team to win the tournament before it starts. If the team you selected wins the World Cup, you win the bet.

Match bet

A match bet is the simplest bet to make on a cricket match. You are simply selecting one team to win a game. This is the simplest cricket bet because you are selecting from either Team A or Team B to win.

Top Batsman

The top batsman bet is a wager on the batsman you predict will score the most runs in a game or a tournament. The odds should be high on a top batsman market because you have multiple players to select from.

Top Bowler

The top bowler bet is like the top batsman bet. You are predicting which player will finish the match with the most wickets. You can also place a top bowler bet on an entire tournament.

Over/Under

An over/under bet is a wager on the number of runs scored in a game. Bookmakers will provide a specific run total (benchmark). You must decide if the match will finish with over or under the total given by the bookmaker.

Toss Winner

This is a bet on which team will win the opening coin toss.

Runs/wickets total

You are predicting the total number of wickets or runs that will be scored in a certain match. You need to do your homework on the teams and their previous matches to win this bet.

Innings runs/wickets total

You are predicting the total number of wickets or runs that will be scored in a specific innings for a specific match.

Betting Odds

The betting odds offered by sportsbooks are the ratio between the amount of money staked by the bookmaker and the punter.

Odds of 5/1 mean the bookmaker stakes five times the amount the punter has wagered. The punter wins, they will win five times their stake. If the bookmaker wins, they will take the punter’s stake.

You should use a betting odds aggregator site to find the best odds for every match. The odds can differ from bookmaker to bookmaker. Moreover, one bookmaker may not offer a specific market for a match.

Cricket World Cup Betting Tips 2023

Before placing a bet on the Cricket World Cup, it is important to consider a few aspects. These include:

Form

This is one of the most important factors before making a bet. You should research the teams’ previous form and head-to-head match results before making a prediction.

Stadium

The stadium can play a big part in the outcome of a match. Some stadiums are more friendly to batters than others. The surface of the pitch can play havoc with bowlers. The pitch could also help a bowler. A pitch can give one team an advantage.

Weather

Weather is a major factor and makes the pitch more favourable to one team. Dry conditions often help the batsmen, while wet pitches tend to improve the bowlers’ chances.

Do Research

One of the most important cricket betting tips is to research the teams, players, and previous head-to-head meetings. You can do too much research, but oftentimes, bettors do not do enough research before placing a bet on cricket.

Start Small, Work Up

Too often, bettors want to go big too soon. It is okay to start small and build up over time. It is important to get the hang of the markets, bets, and tournaments before wagering too much money.

Enjoy Betting on Cricket

Betting on cricket, or any sport for that matter, should never be about making money. It should be a fun activity. You should never wager more than you can afford to lose.

Cricket World Cup FAQ

What is the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup?

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is a One Day International cricket tournament that takes place every four years. The tournament features the leading men’s ODI cricket teams in the world. Ten teams will play in the 2023 edition of the tournament in India. The event will be played over the course of six weeks.

How often is the tournament held?

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is held every four years.

How many teams participate in the T20 World Cup?

Ten teams will compete in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

Which team has won the most ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups?

Australia has won the most Cricket World Cups. The Aussies have claimed five World Cup trophies, winning the tournament in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015.

How can I buy tickets for the matches?

Fans can purchase tickets on matchdays at the venue gates, according to availability. Fans can purchase Cricket World Cup tickets in advance by visiting CricketWorldCup.com.

Can I watch the matches online?

New Zealand cricket fans can stream matches online via Sky Sports NZ.

Who are the top players to watch in the tournament?

Australian fast-bowler Pat Cummins, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, and England batsman Dawid Malan are three of the top players to watch at this year’s tournament. Indian fans will be supporting star player Rohit Sharma, as Team India aims to win the World Cup on home soil.

When and where is the final match scheduled?

The Cricket World Cup final will be played on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.