New Zealand are set to face England in four ODIs in September as they prepare for the 2023 ICC World Cup. Pace bowlers Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson will return to the Kiwis squad for the tour of the world champions.

Boult has not played an ODI game since featuring against Australia in September 2022, while Jamieson’s last contest for New Zealand in white-ball cricket came against the Netherlands in an ODI, back in April 2022.

Both players will be very familiar with conditions in England, particularly Boult who shone at the World Cup there in 2019, with his hat-trick against Australia at Lord’s being one of his highlights of the tournament.

New Zealand Hoping It Is Third Time Lucky at World Cup

The Kiwis have reached the final of the last two editions of the World Cup but unfortunately for them, they have beaten in both games. In 2015, they lost to Australia by seven wickets at Melbourne Cricket Ground, while four years later, hosts England won by the barest of margins, on boundary countback following a Super Over at Lord’s.

New Zealand are +750 to win this year’s tournament and go one place better than they did in the 2015 and 2019 editions. Those in New Zealand looking to back their country can take advantage of a NZ offer for bet365, which will give them up to $100 in bet credits when opening a new account. This can be used on the tournament in India where there will be a fantastic array of matches on every game during the two-month event.

The 2015 and 2019 runners-up are ranked fourth in the ICC ODI rankings behind Australia, Pakistan, and India respectively. They have been victorious in eight of their last 11 ODI series, making them one of the in-form teams going into the biggest tournament in the sport.

England Have Included New Zealand Born Ben Stokes to Their Squad

Defending champions England have announced the return of one of their own stars, Ben Stokes, who will join their ODI squad for the New Zealand series and the World Cup in India. The Kiwi-born all-rounder retired from ODI cricket in 2022, but he has now reversed that decision after a conversation with captain Jos Buttler.

As documented by the BBC, Stokes was a key player in helping win their first World Cup in 2019. It was his innings of 84 not-out in the final against New Zealand which proved crucial in forcing a dramatic Super Over. When he arrived at the crease, the hosts were 86-4 and had a lot of work to do to reach New Zealand’s modest total of 241. He hit five fours and two sixes in an excellent innings, which was supported by Buttler and Liam Plunkett.

The Test captain is likely to come into the team as a specialist batsman, as he bowled very few overs during the recent Ashes series against Australia due to pain in his knee.

The opening ODI between England and New Zealand takes place on September 8 at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Games then follow at the Rose Bowl, Oval and Lord’s.

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