When the Cricket World Cup Breaks Streaming Records: How to Be Part of the Action in 2023
The 2023 Cricket World Cup is the sports buzzword that has set everyone’s tongues wagging and keyboards clattering. With 48 games unfolding over a span of six weeks in India, this year’s showdown is bringing drama and shockers by the dozen. England, the defending champions, faced a humbling defeat at the hands of Afghanistan, but the story doesn’t stop there. India’s clash against Pakistan shattered global streaming records with 35 million concurrent viewers on Disney+ Hotstar. To put it in perspective, that’s five times the peak audience of the most recent Super Bowl!
Let’s dive into how to catch the 2023 Cricket World Cup action in the United States, tips for free streaming, and the not-to-miss game schedule that will make you set your alarm clocks!
The American Spectator’s Playbook: ESPN+ and Willow TV
“You can catch all Australian games and the Cricket World Cup semi-finals and final free with a VPN.”
If you’re in the U.S., ESPN+ is your cricket gateway. This streaming service is showcasing all 48 matches of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. It’s a bonanza, not just for cricket fans, but sports enthusiasts in general. An ESPN+ subscription goes beyond cricket, granting you exclusive access to a myriad of live events including UFC Fight Night, Formula 1 races, and select baseball and football games. You can stream all this content on a variety of devices ranging from smart TVs to phones and computers.
Willow TV also comes to the rescue as North America’s only dedicated cricket channel. You can either go for a direct subscription or add it through platforms like Sling or DirecTV.
Beyond the Paywall: Free Streaming Strategies
“Residents of Australia can watch all Australian games, plus major matches such as the semi-finals and final, free on 9Now. In the UK, the final also will be shown for free on Channel 5 (My5).”
So you want to watch cricket but balk at the idea of adding another subscription to your list? Fear not. Residents of Australia can enjoy all Australian matches plus the big games like semi-finals and final for free on 9Now. In the UK, Channel 5 (My5) will broadcast the final for free.
For Americans, a VPN can serve as your virtual passport to free cricket streaming. One leading service to consider is ExpressVPN, which offers a wide range of location options and is lauded as “Endgadget’s top pick for the best streaming VPN.” To unlock international content, just change your server location to the UK or Australia and navigate to the right platform, like 9Now or My5.
The Calendar You Can’t Ignore: Match Timings Revealed!
It’s time to mark your calendars! The games are played at times that might seem more suited to owls and nightcrawlers than to humans, especially if you’re in the U.S.
Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule:
All times Eastern
October 25 Australia vs Netherlands: 4:30 a.m.
October 26 England vs Sri Lanka: 4:30 a.m.
October 27 Pakistan vs South Africa: 4:30 a.m.
October 28 Australia vs New Zealand: 1 a.m.
October 28 Netherlands vs Bangladesh: 4:30 a.m.
October 29 India vs England: 4:30 a.m.
October 30 Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: 4:30 a.m.
October 31 Pakistan vs Bangladesh: 4:30 a.m.
November 1 New Zealand vs South Africa: 4:30 a.m.
November 2 India vs Sri Lanka: 4:30 a.m.
November 3 Netherlands vs Afghanistan: 4:30 a.m.
November 4 New Zealand vs Pakistan: 1 a.m.
November 4 England vs Australia: 4:30 a.m.
November 5 India vs South Africa: 3:30 a.m.
November 6 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: 3:30 a.m.
November 7 Australia vs Afghanistan: 3:30 a.m.
November 8 England vs Netherlands: 3:30 a.m.
November 9 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: 3:30 a.m.
November 10 South Africa vs Afghanistan: 3:30 a.m.
November 11 Australia vs Bangladesh: 12:00 a.m.
November 11 England vs Pakistan: 3:30 a.m.
November 12 India vs Netherlands: 3:30 a.m.
November 15 Semi-final 1: 3:30 a.m.
November 16 Semi-final 2: 3:30 a.m.
November 19 Final: 3:30 a.m.
Why The 2023 Cricket World Cup Is Unmissable
This year’s Cricket World Cup has it all: stunning upsets, thrilling victories, and record-shattering audience numbers. So, if you’re even remotely a sports aficionado, you won’t want to miss out on this electrifying event. Whether you opt for a paid service like ESPN+ or finagle your way to free streaming with a VPN, one thing is for certain: this is cricket like you’ve never seen it before.
