The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opener sees England and New Zealand battle it out in match number one at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. England are the defending champions, whereas New Zealand are two-time successive finalists in the global event (2015 and 2019). Recently, England thrashed New Zealand in a four-match ODI series, but the World Cup is a different ball game, and there will be utmost pressure.
As per ESPNcricinfo, England and New Zealand have faced each other on 95 occasions in ODIs, with both sides winning 44 each (3 tied and 4 N/R).
Coming into this high-octane opening league game, all focus will be on New Zealand pacer Trent Boult and England’s Joe Root. Both players are aiming to clock monumental feats. Boult will spearhead New Zealand’s attack, whereas Root, who battled poor form recently, will aim to start fresh.
Ahead of the match, we present the major milestones and records on offer.
200 ODI scalps for Boult; first left-arm pacer to do so for NZ
Veteran Kiwi pacer Trent Boult is New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker among left-arm pacers. In 104 ODI matches, Boult has accumulated 197 wickets at an average of 23.56. He needs three wickets to become the first left-arm pacer from his nation to clock a milestone of 200. Moreover, Boult can also become just the sixth Kiwi bowler to claim 200 or more wickets in ODI cricket. He can join Daniel Vettori (297), Kyle Mills (240), Tim Southee (214), Chris Harris (203), and Chris Cairns (200).
Meanwhile, Boult, who has 27 scalps in England-New Zealand ODIs, can become the third bowler from his nation with 30-plus scalps against the Englishmen after Southee and Richard Hadlee. In the ICC World Cup, Boult is New Zealand’s top wicket-taker with 39 scalps.
1000 runs in store for Joe Root versus NZ; first Englishman to do so
Root is England’s second-highest scorer in ODIs. He owns 6246 runs at 48.79. Root has cracked 16 tons and 36 fifties. In ODIs between England and New Zealand, Root is the fourth-highest scorer and the leader for his country. He has clocked 971 runs from 25 matches at 46.23. Root needs 29 runs more to become the first Englishman to clock 1000 ODI runs versus the Kiwis.
Overall, he can become the second player in ENG-NZ ODIs with 1000-plus runs after Ross Taylor, who managed 1424 runs.
A dual achievement of 500 fours and 50 sixes for Root
Root has spanked 499 fours in ODI cricket. He is one four away from getting to the mark of 500. Notably, Root can become only the fourth Englishman to hammer 500-plus fours in ODIs after Eoin Morgan (588), Marcus Trescothick (528), and Ian Bell (525). Meanwhile, senior batter Root is also three maximums away from 50 sixes. He can become the 10th Englishman to do so.
2nd Englishman with this record at the World Cup
Root is England’s second-highest scorer in ICC World Cup history. He has scored 758 runs at an average of 54.14. Root is 42 runs shy of becoming just the second player from England after Graham Gooch (897) to record 800-plus runs.
1000 runs on Asian soil for Root
Root has amassed 953 ODI runs from 23 matches in Asia at 56.05. He needs 47 runs to complete 1000 runs on Asian soil. Root has one ton and eight fifties with the best score of 104*.
Root can go past Sourav Ganguly with this record
Root has amassed 18555 runs in international cricket, which is the best for an England player. Besides his 6246 runs in ODIs, he owns 11416 runs in the longest format and another 893 runs in 20-over cricket. Root is just 21 runs shy of overtaking Sourav Ganguly, who piled up 18575 runs in international cricket for India. Root is on the verge of becoming the 15th-highest scorer in international cricket if he gets past Ganguly.
Jos Buttler closing in on 7000 List A runs and 10500 international runs
England skipper Jos Buttler has amassed 6989 runs in List A cricket. He carries an average of 44.80. Buttler, who has 13 tons and 41 fifties in the 50-over format, needs 11 runs more to clock a milestone of 7000. Besides, the veteran Englishman is just four runs away from 10500 international runs. Buttler, who has 4823 runs for England in ODIs, also owns 2907 runs in the longest format and 2766 runs in the 20-over format.
Apart from these two massive records, Buttler is also closing in on 500 World Cup runs. He has so far amassed 453 runs at 34.84. He needs 47 more to become the 10th Englishman with 500-plus World Cup runs.
Vital milestones on offer for Bairstow, Conway, and Woakes
England’s Jonny Bairstow owns 5575 runs in List A cricket. He has a strike rate of 103.25. Bairstow, who has smashed 148 sixes in the 50-over format, needs two more to clock a milestone of 150.
Devon Conway of New Zealand recently got past 4000 runs in List A cricket. He now needs just one boundary to clock 400 fours in the format. He has 100 fours for New Zealand in Odis.
Meanwhile, England pacer Chris Woakes has 25 scalps versus New Zealand at 23.92. He needs two wickets to become the third-highest wicket-taker against NZ for England in ODIs. He needs three wickets in total to equal Ian Botham’s tally of 28 scalps as well.