The Cricket World Cup is one of the most important international events on the cricket calendar, and in 2023 it will take place in India between October 5th and November 19th. Organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the competition is one of the five most watched in the world and attracts a legion of fans and sports enthusiasts every four years.

The last edition of the tournament took place in 2019, based in England and Wales, and was played between May and July, and the England team took the title after beating New Zealand in the final. But before we find out more about this year's competition, let's learn a little about cricket and this year's World Cup. Here's what you'll find while reading:

The history of cricket

Cricket originates in England, between the 16th and 17th centuries, and is considered similar to baseball in some aspects. It is believed that the history of cricket evolved from other ancient games played in Europe, such as “stoolball” and “trap-ball”, which were played with a bat and a ball like cricket. There are those who say that this sport originated as a children's game, in the southeastern counties of the United Kingdom at some point in the medieval period, and historical evidence suggests that the first reference to the game of cricket appeared around 1597.

We know that it was only in 1744 that the first known record of a cricket game that took place in London, England, was written and that this is currently a very popular sport in some parts of the world, such as England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh , South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.

In 1975 the International Cricket Council (ICC) held the 1st ODI Cricket World Cup, which now takes place every 4 years. Since then, the sport has continued to progress and attract a following, however, although cricket has established its own World Cup, it has yet to achieve a presence at the Olympic Games. Cricket has only been part of the Olympics once in its entire history, in Paris in 1900, and was discarded for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

How does a cricket match work?

Cricket is a widely enjoyed sport that involves complex interactions between batsmen, bowlers, batsmen and the field, and to understand how a cricket match works, one needs to delve into its nuances. So let's go?

A cricket match is played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players and the main objective is to accumulate more runs than the opposing team, while trying to eliminate the opposing team's batsmen. The playing field is an oval lawn, with a central rectangle where the main action takes place.

The game is divided into two phases: the batting inning and the pitching and fielding inning. In the batting innings, one team tries to score as many runs as possible, while the opposing team looks to eliminate them and limit the runs. The batsman is in the center position, and the opposing team's bowler tries to hit the batsman's wicket (a set of three wooden stakes stuck in the ground) with the ball.

The batsmen, in turn, try to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets (two smaller stakes positioned at a certain distance from the main wicket). The game revolves around the batsman's ability to find gaps in the field and choose when to run to score runs. Every time they successfully cross the wickets, they accumulate runs.

The pitching and fielding shift is the response of the defending team. They try to eliminate the opposing team's hitters in various ways. One of them is to hit the wicket with the ball, making the batsman “out”. Another is to catch the ball after a throw and touch the wicket before the batsman returns safely to his side.

A cricket match is made up of “innings”, where each team has the opportunity to bat and bowl. Depending on the format of the game, the number of innings and duration may vary. In the end, the team that scores the most runs during the game is declared the winner.

The game is notable for its complex rules and intricate strategies. Teams can use fast bowlers, spin bowlers and varied fielding tactics to put pressure on opposition batsmen and limit runs. Team management is vital, with captains making strategic decisions regarding pitcher changes, field layout and use of umpiring decision reviews.

Cricket is a sport that demands patience and strategy, and it is worth noting that games can last several hours or even days, in the case of Test cricket. It's a mix of skill, concentration and strategy that attracts fans from all over the world and makes cricket a truly unique and captivating sport.

Details about the 2023 Cricket World Cup

Organized every four years by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the previous edition of this tournament took place in England and Wales in 2019, culminating in the unprecedented victory of the England team, which won the Cricket World Cup title.

This year, the 13th edition of the tournament will be held entirely in India. Although the country has co-hosted the competition on three previous occasions, this time will be the first time that India will host the event exclusively on its territory.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from October 5th to November 19th and will adopt a round-robin format in the initial phase, where all teams will face each other, totaling 45 matches in this preliminary phase. Subsequently, the four best performing teams will advance to the semi-finals. It will be an exciting competition that cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting.

The 2023 Cricket World Cup will feature a total of 48 matches, covering the initial round-robin format, the two semi-finals and the grand final. These exciting clashes will take place in 10 stadiums across India, culminating in the final scheduled for the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad.

The teams that come first and fourth will face each other in the first semi-final in Mumbai on November 15, while the teams ranked second and third will face each other in the second semi-final in Kolkata on November 16.

O PLANET SPORTS is here to provide all the essential details so you can plan and follow the Cricket World Cup with ease. This includes information about the fixtures and how to watch the games, ensuring you don't miss any exciting moments from this world-class sporting event!

How to watch the 2023 Cricket World Cup

The 45 round-robin phase matches, the two semi-finals and the grand final will take place in 10 different stadiums in India, but not everyone interested will have the chance to attend these locations in person in the Asian country. However, there is no reason to worry!

To the delight of the vast community of cricket enthusiasts around the world, there is the option of watching matches online, through devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers and notebooks. In this article, we'll explore two of the ways to do this, ensuring you don't miss a single moment of this exciting competition.

1 – Disney+Hotstar
O Hotstar is the result of a development process that lasted fifteen months, being officially launched in February 2015. This launch took place just four days before the start of the 2015 Men's Cricket World Cup, whose broadcasting rights were guaranteed by its owner, Star India, which is currently a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India.

Today, Hotstar, also known as Disney+Hotstar due to its association with Disney, operates on a subscription basis and offers a wide range of programs from international channels, including the renowned HBO. However, its undisputed biggest highlight is the live broadcast of various sporting events, with cricket being one of the main focuses.

So, if you are looking for a reliable, high-resolution video-on-demand service to watch the Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, Hotstar will undoubtedly meet your expectations exceptionally well. It's the right choice to enjoy this exciting sporting event with quality and comfort.

2 – Sky Sports
A Sky Sports, under the leadership of Jonathan Licht, is a renowned sports channel network that offers a subscription TV service that is largely prevalent in Ireland and the United Kingdom, regions where cricket enjoys a high profile.

With a history that stretches from 1991 to the present day, the network exerts a significant influence on the commercialization of British sport, having contributed to substantial changes in the sporting organizational landscape. It is clear that Sky Sports would not fail to broadcast an event of such magnitude as the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup, given the great popularity of this sport in the territories in which it offers its services.

So if you're eager to follow the matches of this exciting global tournament, Sky Sports presents itself as an exceptional choice given its credentials and dedication to comprehensive coverage of high-profile sporting events.

Find out more details about the games

If you belong to the select group of cricket enthusiasts and ardent admirers who are fortunate enough to reside in beautiful India, or have the flexibility to embark on an exciting journey to the majestic Asian soil, or if you simply want to stay up to date with the schedules of each departure to follow them virtually, so be sure to check out the information below. Find out which teams will face off, the times the matches will take place and the locations where these exciting tournament clashes will take place.

• October 5th

England v New Zealand 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• October 6

Pakistan v Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

• October 7th

Bangladesh v Afghanistan 10:30 am (05:00 GMT) – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

South Africa v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

• October 8

India vs Australia 2pm (08:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

• October 9

New Zealand v Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

• October 10th

Inglaterra x Bangladesh 10h30 (05h00 GMT) – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

• October 11th

India vs Afghanistan 2pm (8:30am GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

• October 12th

Australia v South Africa 2pm (08:30 GMT) – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

• October 13

New Zealand v Bangladesh 2pm (08:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

• October 14

India v Pakistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• October 15th

England v Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

• October 16

Australia v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

• October 17th

South Africa v Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

• October 18

New Zealand v Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

• October 19

India vs Bangladesh 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

• October 20th

Australia v Pakistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

• October 21st

Holanda x Sri Lanka 10h30 (05h00 GMT) – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

England v South Africa 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• October, 22

India v New Zealand 2pm (08:30 GMT) – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

• October, 23

Pakistan v Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

• October 24th

South Africa v Bangladesh 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• October 25

Australia v Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

• October 26th

England v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

• October 27th

Pakistan v South Africa 2pm (08:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

• October 28

Australia v New Zealand 10:30 am (05:00 GMT) – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

Netherlands v Bangladesh 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• October 29th

India vs England 2pm (08:30 GMT) – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

• October 30

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

• October 31st

Pakistan v Bangladesh 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• November 1st

New Zealand v South Africa 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

• November 2nd

India vs Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• November 3

Netherlands vs Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

• November 4th

New Zealand v Pakistan 10:30 am (05:00 GMT) – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

England v Australia 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• November 5th

India v South Africa 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• November 6

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

• November 7th

Australia v Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• November 8th

England v Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

• 9 of November

New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2pm (08:30 GMT) – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

• November 10

South Africa v Afghanistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• November 11th

Australia v Bangladesh 10:30 am (05:00 GMT) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

England v Pakistan 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• November 12th

India vs Netherlands 2pm (08:30 GMT) – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

• November 15th

Semi-final 1: First place vs fourth place, 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• November 16

Semi-final 2: Second place vs third place, 2pm (08:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• November 19

Final: Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2, 2pm (8:30am GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

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The Cricket World Cup is an electrifying competition that unites fans and supporters from different nations around the globe. Lasting more than a month, the tournament represents an authentic sporting spectacle, captivating those interested in the sport, so get ready to experience this grand event.

And if you don't know much about cricket yet, there's no reason to worry, as there's plenty of time to get acquainted, after all, there are more than 30 days of pure cricket waiting for you! This is the perfect time to get involved in sport and enjoy an exciting competition full of talent.