ICC World Cup 2023: Not England Or India!! Mike Hussey Backs Different Team To Reclaim The World Cup

Who will win the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023? This is the question that has become the major talking point in the cricketing fraternity as the ODI World Cup is just a handful of days away. And the latest high-profile name to predict the winner of the tournament is none other than Australian great Mike Hussey.

ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 19 in India. Having co-hosted the tournament three times in the past, India will be hosting the tournament alone for the first time. Last World Cup’s finalists England and New Zealand will be up against each other in the opening match of the tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

A total of ten teams – India, Australia, England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand, and Afghanistan – will take part in ODI World Cup 2023. Many believe that the upcoming tournament will be one of the most competitive ones in the history of World Cups as several teams are strong contenders to win it.

Mike Hussey picks his World Cup favorite:

Mike Hussey has also picked his favorites to win the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The former Australia batsman has backed his own country to win the forthcoming competition in India. Australia are the most successful team in the history of the competition.

While no other team has won the ODI World Cup more than twice, they have won it five times. Mike Hussey, who won the ODI World Cup in 2007, highlighted that Australia have a settled unit and also pointed out their victory against India in India in the ODI series earlier this year.

“I think Australia’s got a great chance as they have kept a (large) group of players together for a period of time now,” Mike Hussey was quoted as saying by ICC.

“They all know their roles pretty well and they’ve got a bit of continuity in their team as well. I think they’ve been trying a few little different things. They performed well in the series (in March) against India in Indian conditions and that will give them enormous confidence coming into the World Cup.

“And Australia has a great history in World Cup events. So, I know they will be very determined to do extremely well,” he added.

Speaking further, World Cup-winner backed spinner Adam Zampa and veteran pacer Mitchell Starc to play key roles for the team. However, he was quick to state that all the players will have to perform for Australia if they want to win the tournament.

“Adam Zampa could play a big role for Australia throughout the tournament. He has been really good over the last few years. And I think Mitch Marsh is someone that can certainly have a big impact. He has been given a great role, batting in the top three now and he is playing with enormous confidence. So, if he gets his confidence up, he can be a really tough man to stop.”

“You can’t rely on just one of two key players to win you a World Cup and it’s going to take a collective effort. But I think for Australia to do really well, they need their big guns to really step up and I guess when you think of that, you think of Steve Smith and Pat Cummins,” said Mike Hussey.

Australia will open its campaign in World Cup 2023 against hosts Team India on October 8 in Chennai. Australia last won the World Cup in 2015 and will be eyeing a record-extending sixth title.