I can see England beating India in a tight World Cup final: James Anderson

Veteran England pacer James Anderson has said that England will beat India in a tight final to win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Defending champions England started their 2023 World Cup campaign with a massive nine-wicket loss against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5.

Speaking to BBC Test Match Special, Anderson named England, India, Australia, and South Africa as the four semi-finalists while backing England to beat hosts India in the final. England will be hoping to win their second-ever World Cup title after beating New Zealand in the 2019 final.

“The semi-finalists will be England, India, Australia, and South Africa. I like how South Africa turned it around in their series against Australia. Their batting is strong and they have nice options with the ball. Pakistan will be close, as will New Zealand, but both will miss out. I can see England beating India in a tight final,” said



Anderson.

In the first match of the 2023 World Cup, Joe Root hit 77 as England batters surprisingly failed to take the aggressive route that has brought them plenty of success over the last few years.

Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan took their time against a bowling attack that did not have Lockie Ferguson or Southee and a Trent Boult who was not at his best.

Root was the only batter who looked in rhythm as the rest of the batters, including captain Jos Buttler, threw their wickets away. Thanks to handy contributions from the lower-order, England huffed and puffed to 282 which in the end, was not enough.

New Zealand batters Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra made easy work of the target, smashing unbeaten centuries to take the Kiwis over the line with nine wickets in hand.

England will now face Bangladesh at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala in their second match of the 2023 ODI World Cup.