ICC World Cup 2023 Picks - Men’s Cricket World Cup Predictions & Betting Odds
The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup begins in earnest on October 5, and it will see two familiar foes — England and New Zealand — renew hostilities in the tournament curtain-raiser.
Four years ago, England took out New Zealand in a gripping final in Lord’s, London, prevailing in a super over tie.
India will be the host nation for this limited-overs international cricket extravaganza, and the teams have been put through their paces with a plethora of warm-up matches in the run-up to the event.
But how will this tournament pan out? We will give you the full lowdown on the format, and answer a series of burning questions, such as who will be a formidable contender, and where the potential winners might come from.
This sports betting guide has been designed for cricket enthusiasts in mind.
ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule & Overview
The ICC world cup 2023 will be the 13th edition of the World Cup which first began in 1975. Only six teams, including the West Indies, have lifted the World Cup, which is a one-day international cricket competition comprising 50 overs per side to bat and bowl.
What makes it more intriguing are the three powerplay overs, which means that there will be restrictions placed on the bowling team and the number of players that are permitted in the 30-yard circle.
It will be spread across 39 days in India, and there will be 10 venues covering the tournament.
In terms of format, the World Cup proceedings start with a round-robin stage featuring 10 teams. Each side will play nine matches, and the four highest-ranked teams to emerge from the round-robin stage will punch their ticket for the semi-finals.
Sides will be awarded two points for a win, one for a tie or a no-result, and zero for a defeat.
The semi-finals will see the team that topped the round-robin stage face the side that finished fourth, while the other semi-finalists pit the runner-up against the third-placed team.
Whoever prevails in the semi-finals will then meet in the showpiece final, and this is where the most experienced players will come to the fore. The Final is one match you won’t want to miss, and you can find out all the latest Stake news leading up to this showpiece occasion in our rolling blog!
World Cup 2023 Predictions
While the cricketing nations participating will be on tenterhooks and desperate to deliver, the World Cup can be fraught with tensions for the fans too.
For those cricket enthusiasts who will be glued to their TV screens over the next five weeks or so, we have earmarked some dates to pen in your calendar, so cancel any plans you may have. All times are represented in GMT.
Key Dates:
Round Robin Match 1 - Thursday October 5, England v New Zealand, 8.30am local time, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Round Robin Match 45 - Sunday November 12, India v Netherlands, 8.30am local time, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Semi-Final 1 - Wednesday November 5, 1st Place v 4th Place (TBC), 8.30am local time, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Semi-Final 2 - Thursday November 16, 2nd Place v 3rd Place (TBC), 8.30am local time, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Final - Sunday November 19, Winner of Semi-Final 1 v Winner of Semi-Final 8.30am local time, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Let’s now run through some of the top teams that should shake things up at the World Cup.
Australia
In any given tournament , Australia will usually be considered favourites. When compiling a guide on international outrights , the Aussies, who are five-time World Cup winners, are notoriously strong and ruthless with bat and ball.
Although Ashton Agar’s injury means Adam Zampa is the sole spinner in the squad, the bowling attack contains the ferocious Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, while Steve Smith can churn out runs at ease, and any prop betting guide is bound to feature him. Australia will certainly be a strong contender.
England
The reigning champions, England love the white-ball format, and since the last World Cup, England have had a lot of joy on the field, clinging onto an astonishing 84% of catches.
Although the Jason Roy-Jonny Bairstow partnership has slowed down in the power play over, Ben Stokes remains one of the key players. Since 2015, he has finished not out in 13 of the 34 international cricket run chases which is remarkable.
New Zealand
New Zealand is fast running out of time to end their World Cup hoodoo, but let’s not take anything away from the quality of players at their disposal.
When in full flow, they can be hard to handle. Trent Boult is one of the key players, at least in terms of what he brings to the bowling attack. Intriguingly, the left-arm seamer took 39 wickets across the past two World Cups, which has only been bettered by Mitchell Starc. On the batting front, expect some explosive shots from Kane Williamson, who will be only too happy to hit it out of the park.
India
It seems amiss to almost overlook the Indian team. However, they have had a busy schedule, and they have played 66 ODIs since the previous World Cup, which is 10 more than any other team involved in this edition of the tournament.
Virat Kohli is one of the key players as he has 47 one-day hundreds to his name, but KL Rahul or Rohit Sharma, for example, can both flick a switch and turn on the style during the powerplay overs. Oh, and Mohammed Shami shone at the 2015 World Cup, so he will be eager to push on.
Surprise Picks & Predictions
In terms of who should advance to the semi-final stage, the likes of India, England, and Australia are primed to make progress, but there are a couple of dark horses lurking which we have discussed below.
South Africa
South Africa are no strangers to World Cup drama. The 1999 World Cup semi-final left an indelible mark on our memories, as the Proteas required nine runs from the final over, but a mix-up involving Allan Donald and Lance Klusener saw their hopes of reaching the Final evaporate.
Anyway, South Africa are fourth in the ODI rankings, and while they aren’t the strongest team in the tournament, you wouldn’t want to rule them out.
Pakistan
Pakistan, who got their hands on the trophy in 1992, had a highly-vaunted side back then. The bowling attack can topple wickets with little encouragement, and if they can come flying out of the traps, they could go deep in the tournament.
Favourites & Top Contenders to Win
We have reached the stage where it’s time to run the rule over a few of the World Cup’s top contenders, and who is likely to hoist the infamous trophy.
England
Success in one-day international cricket has come quite easily to England, and after all, they are the reigning World Cup champions.
Of course, being the champion comes with an added burden, and there is a target on your back. There have been some interesting additions to the World Cup squad, such as Gus Attkinson, but there is plenty of panache with the bat, such as Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Bairstow. They could quite far again, and they will be a strong contender.
Australia
Having experienced unparalleled success in the World Cup, Australia go into this major one-day international cricket tournament as one of the favourites, and they could well light things up.
In the run-up to the World Cup, there have been some bruising defeats at the hands of South Africa and India, but their pedigree is undeniable.
Mitchell Starc, as mentioned, will carry a huge threat with the ball while the top order, which will include Steve Smith, could make hay with the bat. The Aussies are worth keeping an eye on.
India
Having qualified as the hosts, the Indian team are attracting plenty of interest, and in Rahul Dravid, who was nicknamed “The Wall” during his playing days for his watertight defence skills at the crease with the bat, will be looking to steer India to World Cup glory.
It seems unthinkable that they won’t reach at least the semi-finals. While some of the pitches are slower, such as Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the spinners could well profit, and they could play a key role in terms of progress made by India in the competition.
Cricket Betting Tips, Odds & Previews
At Stake.com , there are tons of cricket markets to explore, including upcoming tournaments, and the relationship between live betting vs pre-match betting is fascinating.
To hone in on your sports betting strategy, we have outlined a few tips so you can maximise your wagering opportunities throughout the World Cup.
Always look for value - Whether you are looking to tap into the World Cup outrights or the moneyline, don’t always back the short-priced favourites. Go for value wherever possible, so that if successful, you will return bigger winnings.
Try new markets - If you are a novice bettor, perhaps you may wish to stick to a few select lines. However, if you are looking to broaden your horizons, then perhaps try parlay betting , or even prop betting , and test yourself on more sophisticated markets.
Keep an eye on bonuses - Promotions come in many shapes and forms, so keep your eyes peeled for monthly bonuses , such as free bets or money back offers as these will keep your bankroll ticking over.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Cricket
We have shown you the different types of wagers you can make when betting on cricket .
Moneyline Betting - Essentially you are just predicting who will win the match. In the World Cup, if the scores are tied after 50 overs, a Super Over will determine the victors.
International Outrights - This is taking a slightly longer term view with your betting, such as guessing who the winners of the World Cup will be, and prices can be more favourable to bettors before the tournament begins.
Props - This is more geared towards player and team performances. For player prop betting , this entails which player will end the match as the top run scorer or pick up the most wickets. Whereas, with team props, this could revolve around how many runs a side might score in their innings.
Parlay - Also known as an accumulator, parlay betting is where you assemble a betting slip and add multiple selections. All your picks need to come through to win, so there is more risk with this type of bet.
In-play betting - This involves betting as the action unfolds and it can be very exciting as the odds will change in real time. In most cases, you can cash out your bet early and retrieve winnings, but there may be some restrictions on lines, so check before proceeding.
Handicaps - A line will be drawn up to represent the metaphorical advantage provided to one team, and with boosted odds, bettors can profit from this market.
Live Stream Cricket Online at Stake Sportsbook
Stake.com is the home of live cricket . Therefore, with a registered account, you can keep on top of the World Cup as the matches unfold. Pick your preferred game, and tune into our live cricket stream as the wickets tumble!
Bet on Cricket with Best Odds on Stake Sportsbook
Boasting an extensive range of markets, Stake.com is a fabulous destination for cricket fans, and you will be kept in the loop with all the latest lines and odds movements.
The prices are competitive, and at Stake.com, we are always looking for ways to enhance your betting experience, whether that be through live streaming or in-play betting.
Stake.com has plenty of intuitive features and multiple supported payment methods to bankroll your account. Check that the deposit/withdrawal methods are the same before proceeding. Above all, when you play at Stake.com, always practise responsible gambling!
