JUST IN <\/strong> Freddie Flintoff clip shows icon speaking for first time since Top Gear crash[SPOTTED] <\/strong><\/p>\n India hotshot Shubman Gill is set to miss his side’s opening match of the World Cup against Australia.<\/p>\n He has been ruled out after testing positive for dengue, having missed the team’s practice on Wednesday and Thursday through illness.<\/p>\n “He is under the weather,” the official update from BCCI had said. “The medical team is closely monitoring him. We are hoping he gets better soon.”<\/p>\n Pakistan icon Wasim Akram has called for one-day cricket to be reduced to 40 overs in order to help speed up the game.<\/p>\n There have been suggestions that the current format is not engaging enough, while the backdrop of the conversation was provided by a nearly empty stadium yesterday.<\/p>\n Akram said to Fox Australia: \u201cI have a problem with ODI cricket right now. Very rarely do you see nowadays in one-day cricket something interesting happen in those (middle) 30 overs.<\/p>\n \u201cJust go to 40 overs \u2026 you\u2019ll have more action during that period. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s going to happen, but I think 40 overs would be more interesting, especially for bilateral series.<\/p>\n \u201cNowadays the audience, we do know their (attention) span is lesser than the nineties, because of T20 formats, because of social media. We have to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n Viewers were perplexed as they turned on their TV to watch England in the opening game of the Cricket World Cup yesterday.<\/p>\n However, it appeared that just a few thousand fans were in attendance in the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium.<\/p>\n The Guardian have claimed that the schedule being announced only six weeks ago will not have played a positive role in boosting numbers.<\/p>\n Foreign visitors were told on the day that they had to pick up their tickets from a hotel 20 minutes away from the ground, rather than the stadium itself.<\/p>\n While host nations are typically involved in the opening match, but it was a repeat of the 2019 final instead of featuring India – who would have provided a big boost in numbers.<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the Cricket World Cup, where you can find all the latest news and updates throughout the day.<\/p>\n Be sure to check out yesterday’s blog to recap England’s defeat to New Zealand and the news from the opening day of the tournament.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/68\/590x\/secondary\/Cricket-World-Cup-England-New-Zealand-4997137.jpg?r=1696577684625\")
<\/p>\nIndia star to miss opener<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/68\/590x\/secondary\/4997157.jpg?1696577662510\")
<\/p>\nOverhaul called for<\/h3>\n
Empty stadium explained<\/h3>\n
Good morning<\/h3>\n