Stokes misses out as campaign England get started in empty venue

ENGLAND this morning began their World Cup defence in India without injured talisman Ben Stokes, as the organisers' decision not to have the host nation open the tournament looked set to backfire amid tens of thousands of empty seats in Ahmedabad

- Malik Ouzia

In an unusual move, India do not start their campaign until meeting Australia in Kolkata on Sunday, leaving Jos Buttler's side to take on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in what had been billed as a blockbuster repeat of 2019's epic final at Lord's.

Instead, however, the two sides emerged to find the world's largest cricket venue, the 130,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium, which will also host the final, less than a tenth full.

Jonny Bairstow made light of the subdued surroundings to flick the second ball of the tournament for six on his way to making 33 off 35 deliveries before falling to spinner Mitchell Santner. New Zealand, however, fought back well as, with Dawid Malan and Harry Brook, the beneficiary of Stokes's absence, the other wickets to go down, England stuttered to 109 for three from 19 overs.

While the attendance was expected to rise as scorching temperatures cooled into the evening, the cavernous backdrop made for bleak early viewing at the start of a tournament that has been heavily criticised over organisational delays in the build-up.