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So the story begins. Ten teams, 45 days, 48 matches and not a single boundary cutback: the 2023 World Cup is upon us. The hosts are usually involved on opening night, but for the BCCI’s chief schedulers, a rematch of the greatest ever ODI final proved irresistible.
The tournament starts with England v New Zealand in Ahmedabad – just as it did, a little weirdly, the last time the hosts weren’t involved in the opening game. That was in 1996, when England were living on a different white-ball planet. This year they start as holders of both white-ball trophies and second favourites behind the hosts India.
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