The tournament is an eight-team round-robin involving Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, India and Bangladesh. New Zealand is battling an Covid-19 omicron outbreak with more than 20,000 cases a day and crowds will be restricted to 10% of venue capacity. Host New Zealand beat Australia in a warm-up match and will meet the West Indies in the first match of the tournament Friday with limited fan support at Bay Oval in Tauranga. A comprehensive win in the recent Ashes series shows Australia is in peak form heading into its opening match of the tournament against defending champion England on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the six-time champion Australia again is favored to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup which begins Friday at a watershed moment in the sport, amid clamor for pay equity and rising global exposure for the women’s game. Hosts #TeamNewZealand look to start their World Cup campaign on a winning note as they lock horns with #TeamWestIndies at the Bay Oval 🏏 /6l6X3yOw1A- ICC Cricket World Cup March 4, 2022

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