England and New Zealand arrive in Ahmedabad for Cricket World Cup 2023 kick off

Defending champions and 2019 finalists to open 50-over tournament on Thursday

The England team arrived in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, October 3, ahead of their 2023 ODI World Cup opening match against New Zealand that takes place on Thursday. Reuters

Cricket - World Cup - England cricket team arrive in India ahead of the World Cup - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, Ahmedabad, India - October 3, 2023 England's Gus Atkinson arrives at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport ahead of the World Cup REUTERS / Amit Dave

England's David Willey arrives in Ahmedabad with teammates. Reuters

The New Zealand team also arrived in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Reuters

New Zealand players after landing in Ahmedabad for the World Cup opener against England. Reuters

New Zealand team at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport in Ahmedabad. Reuters

New Zealand's Mark Chapman in Ahmedabad. Reuters

A security dog at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Reuters

Ground staff work on the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. AP

A cotton candy seller walks past a poster outside the Narendra Modi Stadium. AP

Ground staff work on the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium. AP

The Narendra Modi Stadium gets ready for the opening match of the World Cup. AP

England and New Zealand players landed in Ahmedabad on Tuesday as preparations began for the main leg of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

The defending champions and 2019 finalists will resume the battle that ended in incredible circumstances at Lord's four years back when a boundary countback was needed to declare England as winners after both teams were tied on runs following regulation time and Super Over.

On Thursday, there will, hopefully, be a clear winner when the 50-over tournament begins at the world's biggest cricket venue – the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Both teams arrived in Ahmedabad amid tight security, with reports suggesting that more than 3,000 security personnel will be deployed for the tournament opener.

For players, the focus will be on making a good start. New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee admitted that doctors had to "chuck some screws and a plate" into his injured thumb to boost his hopes of making his country's World Cup squad.

The veteran seamer dislocated his thumb in a ODI against England less than three weeks ago.

However, the 34-year-old said that he was determined to make the trip to India in time to feature in a fourth World Cup.

"I have never had an injury like this before and when it happens so close to a world event, there is limited time," Southee said on arrival in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

"We had to work out the recovery time and the route back was chuck some screws and a plate in it and hope for the best."

He added: "It's still a bit tender where there's a bit of scarring and numbness around where the plate is."