The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is less than two months away and the cricketing world is buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The 10-team tournament will be held in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023, and will feature some of the best players and teams in the world.
One of the teams that many experts and fans have as strong favorites is England, the reigning world champions and the number one ranked ODI team in the world. England have a formidable batting line-up, a balanced bowling attack, and a proven record of success in recent years.
However, not everyone is convinced by England’s chances in India. One of them is Faf du Plessis, the former South African captain who recently spoke with the ICC for a feature. Du Plessis did not pick England as one of his top three contenders to win the World Cup 2023.
Instead, he opted for India, Australia, and his own country, South Africa. He explained his reasoning as follows:
I think South Africa has got a really good side. It will be hard to get past a team like India in home conditions. The other team you can never write off is Australia, with them being so successful in ICC events.
Faf Du Plessis, who led South Africa in the 2019 World Cup, is optimistic about his country’s chances in this year’s event. He believes that South Africa have a strong squad that can challenge any team on their day. He also praised the leadership of Temba Bavuma, who took over as the ODI captain from Quinton de Kock earlier this year.
I think Temba has done a great job so far. He’s got a good cricket brain and he understands the game well. He’s also got a lot of respect from the players and he leads by example.
Du Plessis also picked India as the favorite in the tournament because it will be held in India. He said that India have a lot of depth and quality in their squad, and that they will be hard to beat in their own conditions. He also singled out Virat Kohli as the best batsman in the world, and someone who can make a big difference in any game.
India are always a strong team and they have so many options to choose from. They have a great captain in Virat Kohli, who is probably the best batsman in the world right now. He’s also very passionate and motivated to win trophies for his country.
Du Plessis also picked five-time world champions Australia as favorites alongside India. He said that Australia have a lot of experience and pedigree in ICC events, and that they always find a way to perform well when it matters. He also mentioned that Australia have some of the best fast bowlers in the world, who can trouble any batting line-up.
Australia are always a threat in any ICC tournament. They have a winning culture and they know how to handle pressure situations. They also have some of the best fast bowlers in the world, like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
Faf Du Plessis’ predictions are interesting and bold, especially considering that he left out England from his top three. England have been dominant in ODI cricket for the last few years, and they have a lot of confidence and momentum after winning their first World Cup title in 2019. They also have some of the most explosive and versatile batsmen in the world, like Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, and Ben Stokes.
However, Faf Du Plessis may have a point when he says that England may struggle in Indian conditions, where spinners play a crucial role. England have not been very consistent or convincing against spin bowling in recent times, and they may face some tough challenges from teams like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who have quality spinners in their ranks.
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It remains to be seen whether Du Plessis’ predictions will come true or not, but one thing is certain: the World Cup 2023 will be an exciting and thrilling spectacle for all cricket lovers around the world.
