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World Cup 2023, 1st Match | ENG vs NZ- Cricket Fantasy Top Captain and Vice-captain Picks

image-lnbsxdotDevon Conway will be a very important player for New Zealand in the match against England (Source: AP Photos)

The World Cup 2023 gets on the way with a repeat of the last edition's final. England (ENG) and New Zealand (NZ) will be playing against each other in the tournament's first match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 5th October, Thursday. Ahead of the game, here is a look at the top captain and vice-captain choices for the fantasy contests of the match.

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ENG vs NZ, 1st Match: Venue Analysis

The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to be a good batting track. The wicket will stay true and the batters from both the teams will enjoy the surface. As the game goes by, it is expected that the wicket will slow dow a bit and the spinners wil come into play. 

Narendra Modi Stadium ODI Records

Matches: 3
Matches Won Batting First: 1
Matches Won Batting Second: 2

Average First Innings Score: 225
Average Second Innings Score: 221


ENG vs NZ, 1st Match - Toss Factor 

The wicket will remain good for batting throughout the match. But at night it is expected that the ball will come better onto the bat. Therefore, the team winning the toss might look to field first. 

Scenario: If England wins the toss

As mentioned earlier, if England wins the toss they might look to field first. The fact that they have a great depth in batting will give them even more confidence to chase down a target. Players like Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, and Jos Buttler will be good pick for the captain or vice-captain role from the English team. 

Scenario: If New Zealand wins the toss

Much like the English team, the Kiwis have a good depth in their batting. Besides, the spin department of New Zealand with the likes of Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra look a better unit. Therefore, they will be confident enough to restrict England total and then chase it down. The likes of Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra will be good choices as the captain or vice-captain for the fantasy contests of the match from the New Zealand team. 


ENG vs NZ, 1st Match - Top Captain and Vice-captain options 

If England Bats first

Devon Conway

The Kiwi opener is a very good player of both pace and spin. Conway has been in good form in the recent times. He is a compact batter and the New Zealand team will depend on him to lay a good foundation if they have to chase down a significant target. So, if Kiwis are chasing a target, Conway will be a great choice as the captain for the fantasy contests of the match. 

Jonny Bairstow

The English opener like to get on with the game from the very beginning of the match. Bairstow also looked in a good touch in the warm-up game. Therefore selecting Bairstow as the captain or vice-captain might be a differential and profitable option. 


If New Zealand Bats First

Dawid Malan

The English left-handed opener is a very stable batter and has a compact technique against both spin and pace. His form has been a bit on and off in the recent times, but placing the bet on him as the captain or vice-captain of the game might turn out to be very beneficial. 

Daryl Mitchell

The Kiwi top-order batter has been in good form in the recent times. Mitchell is a consistent run-scorer and can also contribute with the ball if the situation depends. He will be a good choice as a point-multiplier for the fantasy contests of the match. 


ENG vs NZ, 1st Match - Big Risk, Big Return Choices

Joe Root (ENG)

The talismanic English batter has not been in the best of forms, especially in this format. But Root is a very good player of spin and his the class that he represents cannot be ignored on big stages. Many fantasy players might ignore him due to his form, and hence selecting him as the captain or vice-captain might be very rewarding. 


Rachin Ravindra (NZ)

In one of the practice matches, Ravindra was used as an opener and he played the role very nicely. Rachin Ravindra being in the squad gives the Kiwis an added flexibility and dynamism. So, if he makes it to the playing XI, Rachin Ravindra might be a very rewarding choice as the captain or vice-captain of the match.