10 cricket stars make World Cup predictions as two clear favourites emerge
The 2023 Cricket World Cup is set to get underway with a rematch of the 2019 final, with defending champions England taking on New Zealand at the largest cricket ground in the world in Ahmedabad.
Ten teams are competing to win the trophy, with each side set to face each other once in the group stage. A total of 45 group games are set to be played between October 5 and November 12, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
The two semi-finals will be played on November 15 and 16, with the final then staged on November 19. But which of the ten nations competing will ultimately be crowned World Champions.
Well, in an attempt to answer that quesion Mirror Sport has collected ten World Cup predictions from both current and former players including England's all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson, West Indies legend Chris Gayle and World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar.
James Anderson - England
"The semi-finalists will be England, India, Australia and South Africa," Anderson told BBC Sport. "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."
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Lance Klusener - India/Pakistan
"It's all guess work," the 1999 World Cup's player of the tournament told OnlineCricketBetting. "Never discount your Sri Lanka's, your Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, those subcontinent teams doing well and creating upsets in those Indian conditions. Australia have a good chance just like anyone, not forgetting New Zealand as well.
"Lots of teams there can cause an upset, lots of teams on South Africa's plate can cause an upset. In terms of batting, I'm not so sure South Africa can be consistent enough, some questions still need to be answered there. And I think India is a pretty solid team." When pushed on a winner, Klusener predicted New Zealand, Australia, India and Pakistan to reach the semi-finals with either India or Pakistan lifting the trophy.
Lance Klusener, who was player of the tournament at the 1999 World Cup, is backing either India or Pakistan (Ross Kinnaird /Allsport)Steve Harmison - England
"My semi-final four are England, India, Pakistan and New Zealand with New Zealand just pipping Australia and South Africa," Harmison told Mirror Sport, speaking on behalf of OnlineCricketBetting. "I think they've got a well-balanced side, a bit like England. They've got quite a lot of bases covered and an experienced batting unit. I think Pakistan have got a very, very good chance of making the semi-finals, if not the final.
"India have got a lot of batters who don't bowl and a lot of bowlers who don't bat. If India don't end up winning and they crack under pressure in the semi-final or the final, which they can do, then I think it's England's to win. I really think England have got a great chance of winning this World Cup. I've got a sneaky feeling that England are going to do it. I really do have a sneaky feeling that India might just crack under pressure in the semi-final and England will go on and win it."
Tymal Mills - Pakistan
"The final four will be India, Pakistan, England and South Africa," Mills told BBC Sport. "India will be formidable, they have their home conditions and the huge crowds that they get will play a big part in them going far. Of those four, I'm going for Pakistan to win it.
"It's hard to look past their bowling attack with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, and in Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan, they have two of the best ODI batters in the world. In Indian conditions they have most bases covered."
West Indies great Chris Gayle is backing England to retain the World Cup (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Chris Gayle - England
"I want a top five," Gayle told The Spirit of Cricket podcast. "India, Pakistan, Australia, England and I want to add New Zealand to that as well. New Zealand are always in the semi-finals. I'll go with England (to win it) back-to-back."
Steven Finn - India
"This World Cup is the most open there has been in a long time," Finn told BBC Sport. "The lack of 50-over cricket in the build-up will mean some teams will go in slightly muddled about how they approach this format. The four that will reach the semis are England, New Zealand, India and Pakistan.
"They have the most balanced squads. The last three World Cups have been won by hosts - India in 2011, Australia in 2015 and England four years ago. With that in mind, India will win it again this year. They have played significantly more one-dayers than anyone else and home support will be a big advantage."
Sunil Gavaskar - England
"The defending champions, England because of the kind of talent that they have at the top of the order," Gavaskar told Star Sports. "They've got two or three world-class all-rounders who can change the game with both bat and ball. They've also got a very good bowling line-up, an experienced bowling line-up."
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Nasser Hussain - India
"India are favourites," Hussain told . "They're the No.1 ranked side at the moment... and as history tells you, if you're playing your cricket (well) and ranked No.1 - as England were before the last World Cup - that means you're in a good space. Home advantage as we've seen with England (in 2019) and Australia (in 2015)... is absolutely vital."
Carlos Brathwaite - England
"My semi-finalists? England, Australia, India and then Pakistan or South Africa," Brathwaite told BBC Sport. "England have set that standard that you must score 320 to be even considered in the game - 350 if you want to be safe. Australia are dynamic enough that they can keep up with that.
"India may be too conservative and, again, South Africa and Pakistan may be too conservative to consistently do it. The key to Pakistan and South Africa potentially winning is releasing the shackles, playing a free brand of cricket and thinking 330 is the minimum every time they play."
Alex Hartley - India
"India, Pakistan, England and South Africa will be the last four," Hartley told BBC Sport. "There's no Australia in there - I think South Africa are peaking at the right time. The conditions will suit India and Pakistan and I can see them meeting in the final - it's what the whole world wants to see. India will win it."
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