Like leap years and the Olympics, every four years we're blessed with the ICC Cricket World Cup. This year's tournament is sure to be one you won't want to miss — with things kicking off with a re-match of the 2019 final. England, the reigning champions, will take on New Zealand on Oct. 5 to get the action started at the world's largest stadium.
The Cricket World Cup is the international championship of One Day International (ODI) cricket, organized by ICC (the sport's governing body). The world's best cricket teams come together to battle for the ICC ODI World Cup. This year, the favorites are the hosts, India, as well as defending champions, England, and Pakistan. If you're hoping to tune into the tournament live, here's everything you need to know.
When is the Cricket World Cup 2023?
The 13th edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 5 with a match between England, the defending champions, and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. There are one or two matches per day leading up to the semi-finals Nov. 15 and 16 and the final on Nov. 19.
India is hosting this year's tournament, which is 9.5 hours ahead of ET. That means games will be broadcast very early in the U.S (check out the full schedule, including times on the ICC website).
What teams are playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023?
There are a total of 10 teams competing in the 2023 Cricket World Cup tournament including:
India (hosts)
England (defending champions)
Australia
New Zealand
Pakistan
South Africa
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka
Netherlands
Can you watch the Cricket World Cup for free?
Most of the streaming services that offer live broadcasts of the Cricket World Cup matches are not free, with the exception of 9Now. While it doesn't offer every single game, the Australian-based 9Now streaming service offers free coverage of every Australia game, as well as the major matchups and finals (about 18 different games). What's the catch? It's only available to streamers based in Australia. If you try to access it in the U.S., you'll be geo-restricted — unless, of course, you connect to a VPN server based in Australia. Don't worry; it's easier than it sounds.
Bypass those geo-restrictions by following these three main steps:
Sign up for and download a streaming-friendly VPN (see our top picks below)
Open up the VPN app and select a server based in Australia
Head over to 9Now to sign up and stream the ICC Cricket World Cup matches for free
Note: With 9Now, you may need to enter an Australian zip code to sign up.
While you can easily find a free VPN online, it's probably not your best option for security, speed, and server selection. Our top VPN picks do require monthly fees, but you can test the waters before subscribing with a free trial. Plus, they offer money-back guarantees and discounted introductory deals. Here are our top choices.
Best VPN overall: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers a massive network of over 3,000 servers across the globe, including options in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and more. It also features a user-friendly app and a strong commitment to data protection. It's our favorite full-featured VPN on the market and you can currently score 49% off if you commit to a 15-month plan. Try it for 30 days risk-free with the ExpressVPN Guarantee.
Best VPN for streaming: CyberGhost VPN
Our top pick when it comes to streaming, CyberGhost VPN offers over 7,000 dedicated servers in some 90 countries. With servers specifically optimized for 9Now in Australia, streaming the Cricket World Cup should be a breeze. It'll only cost you $2.11/month if you sign up for the two-year plan — that's $10.88/month in savings.
Other ways to stream the ICC Cricket World Cup in the U.S.
ESPN+
ESPN+ will broadcast every game live during the ICC Cricket World Cup for U.S. viewers. Make note that many of the start times are dramatically early — we're talking 2 or 3 a.m. ET — as they take place in India. Fortunately, with ESPN+, you can watch live or check out the replays on-demand after the game airs. Currently, an ESPN+ subscription costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year (15% in savings), but as of Oct. 12, the prices will jump to $10.99/month or $109.99/year. Your best bet to lock in a good price is to sign up for an annual subscription ahead of the hike. That way, you'll get access to the entirety of the Cricket World Cup tournament, as well as plenty of other sports throughout the next year.
Sling TV
Another option is to sign up for the World Cricket package on Sling TV for just $10/month. This unlocks access to Willow TV and Willow XTRA, which will broadcast every match live during the tournament. Unlike ESPN+, there's no price hike taking effect, so you'll pay just $10/month for the months you need access, then can cancel anytime. The only con is that you'll only get access to these two networks for that price, whereas ESPN+ gives you access to a ton of other live sports.
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