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Marcus Hook runs his thumb over the nine teams capable of winning the tournament:

The 6-4 favourites. Only a brave man would put a substantial amount of money on anyone other than Australia winning this year’s World Cup.

In 1999 Adam Gilchrist was expected to take the tournament by storm. That he failed to do so, apart from hitting a memorable 54 in the final, makes it even more likely he will leave his mark this time. With Matthew Hayden at the other end when the innings gets underway, the opposing captain can sometimes look like King Canute trying to turn back the tide.

The opening pair score their runs at such a lick, they really take the pressure off those in next. Indeed, some observers feel Australia’s middle-order has not been tested of late, but with Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn and Michael Bevan up next it seems inconceivable that the Aussies will fail to post consistently challenging totals.

The only chink in their armour is that a few of the bowlers – Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne come to mind – have been showing signs of fatigue recently. But with Brett Lee firing on all cylinders plus Andy Bichel (who hardly seems to get the credit he deserves) and Brad Hogg waiting in the wings, if they were to lose any of these three it would only serve to level the playing field slightly.

Opening their defence against Pakistan and India, it seems quite possible that Australia will have effectively booked their place in the last four before the first week is over.

As with South Africa one just has to look at the players they have left out to get an idea of how strong the Aussies are. Controversially, there is no room in the fifteen for their Test captain Steve Waugh or, indeed, his brother Mark, who averages nearly sixty with the bat in ODIs over the last three years.

It will be a major surprise if they fail to reach the final, and almost as big shock if Ricky Ponting does not lift the trophy on 23 March.

England have not played that much more international cricket than anyone else in the last year or so, yet all one seems to hear from them is how ‘burned out’ they feel. With the majority of the World Cup squad being managed by the centre, the injuries that have disrupted their preparation have either been down to bad luck, bad management or a less than dogged approach.

The absence of Darren Gough is undoubtedly a major blow, but one that England have had time to prepare for. It has not helped that Matthew Hoggard seems to have gone backwards this winter, which is why it seems likely that a newcomer will be sharing the new ball duties with Andrew Caddick.

With Andrew Flintoff and Craig White apparently back to full fitness, England will be a better side than the one that was unable to take a game off Australia in the recent VB series. But if, for whatever reason, they turn back to Ronnie Irani expect to see the England team arriving back at Heathrow within a matter of days.

The batting relies heavily on a good start. If Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick fail to turn up for the party, one can see England struggling to live with Pool A opponents Australia, India and Pakistan. Michael Vaughan, like his captain Nasser Hussain, has a question mark against him in terms of being able to up the ante. Consequently, Paul Collingwood and Alec Stewart could end up playing some crucial innings if they are given time out in the middle.

Even if they do surprise everyone by playing in Harare, from game four onwards every match will be like a final for England. If we qualify for the Super Sixes I will be extremely surprised, but extremely delighted.

Six months ago, India were many people’s tip for the 2003 World Cup. But they go into the tournament bearing a 9-1 price tag after a series of poor one-day displays against the West Indies and New Zealand.

India’s strength lies in their batting. Their Pool A match against Australia, at the batsmen-friendly Centurion Park on 15 February, could set the tone for the rest of their campaign. However, the Indian selectors have been at such pains to accommodate as many batsmen as possible, they have probably left themselves short of backup bowling; a niche that one could easily see Tinu Yohannan filling.

Ganguly, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid and Singh is as good a top five as you are likely to see anywhere. Surprisingly there was no room in the squad for VVS Laxman, even though Bangar and Mongia appear to be surplus to requirements. With only one genuine all-rounder to call upon in Ajit Agarkar, one is also tempted to ask why Reetinder Sodhi was not considered good enough to make the fifteen.

India are unique in having two left-arm seamers (Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra) sharing the new ball, which can only help their spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in conditions that are not expected to favour the twirlers.

The bowling attack cannot expect much assistance in the field, though. India are far from being the best at cutting off singles and turning threes into twos, especially with the likes of Ganguly, Kumble and Srinath around.

Since one cannot envisage them dominating the better sides, one thing you can be sure of is that the matches involving India should be good for the neutrals.

New Zealand have hinted at making a resurgence, but with their bowlers preferring swinging conditions and lively pitches, of the type they produce back home, the Kiwis are not so good on their travels. They are also yet to win a one-day international on South African soil.

Well captained by Stephen Fleming and expertly coached by Denis Aberhart – both of whom place a great deal of importance on strategy and doing their homework on opponents – this group of New Zealanders best quality is that they seem immune to the ‘mental disintegration’ Australia’s Test captain Steve Waugh talks so much about inflicting on his opponents.

The bowling attack could not be any better supported in the field, but the batting looks somewhat thin. It is vital that Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns’s knees hold up. To help make sure they do, neither are expected to do much bowling, which will put all the pressure on the relatively new faces Andre Adams, Shane Bond and Kyle Mills.

Daryl Tuffey will be a key man. If the broad shouldered 24-year-old can continue his knack of taking wickets in his first over – something he has managed in eight of his 44 ODIs – the Black Caps’ batting line-up could have something feasible to aim at.

Brendon McCullum, who is said to be a more stylish cricketer in every sense than Chris Nevin, gets the nod behind the stumps.

Reaching a fifth semi-final would be considered a real achievement back in NZ.

Pakistan have got some truly outstanding cricketers. The question is can they play as a team and all get behind their skipper Waqar Younis for the next six weeks?

To say they blow hot and cold is an understatement. This is why most cases of suspected match-fixing have resulted in ICC investigators beating a path to Pakistan’s door. The recent series against South Africa summed them up completely. After being outclassed in four one-day internationals, they made 335 for six before blowing way their hosts inside thirty overs.

All too often Pakistan bat like millionaires. So, this time, instead of going for the likes of Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq, the selectors have given Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar the specific task of anchoring the innings. Yet, Inzamam-ul Haq, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana will still be seen as the batting’s engine room.

With Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar spearheading things and Abdur Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq applying control, not to mention Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi, the Pakistanis have a bowling attack to envy.

In the field, the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis could prove a liability. But provided Shoaib Akhtar concentrates less on the speed gun and more on getting through the tournament and Shahid Afridi delivers in all departments, Pakistan are likely to have a memorable World Cup.

South Africa are bidding to become the first host country to win the tournament, which they could well do judging by their record at home. Placed in the easier of the two groups they should cruise into the Super Sixes, after which it will be a case of holding their own in one or two more matches to be guaranteed a semi-final berth.

Up first will be Herschelle Gibbs, who is at the top of his game and expected to do well. But it must be a concern that he still has a relatively modest average in one-day cricket. Gibbs is expected to open the batting with the more dependable Kirsten, who will be followed by Dippenaar and Rhodes.

The South Africans possess four top-quality all-rounders in Nicky Boje, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock, and will therefore bat down at least to nine. All four will be key men, supporting, with the ball, Ntini and Donald, who is expected to come on as first change rather than spearhead the attack.

Affirmative action, resulting in a pre-requisite of five coloured players, has been blamed for some notable omissions from the squad. Robin Peterson and Monde Zondeki were preferred as backup in the bowling department to Elworthy, Henderson, Nel, Ontong and Telemachus. An embarrassment of riches indeed.

Everyone expects South Africa to reach the final on 23 March, when it will be up to them to beat Australia at the second time of asking, in all likelihood, to lay to rest the ghost of losing narrowly in the semi-finals four years ago.

The surprise winners in 1996, despite possessing some world-class players it is hard to imagine the Sri Lankans returning to the top of the tree in 2003.

The batting line-up may look a little long in the tooth with Aravinda De Silva (37) and Hashan Tillekaratne (35) around still, but putting runs on the board and doing it quickly is the strongest part of Sri Lanka’s game. The key is captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who will open and will take the bowlers on with his wristy – not to mention aerial – strokeplay. The supporting cast of Atapattu, Arnold, Jayawardene and Sangakkara should be productive more often than not, but the lack of a genuine all-rounder or two to come in next must be a concern.

The Sri Lankans are also far from being the best in the field and the bowling relies primarily on Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan. It will be interesting to see how Jayasuriya brigades others to bowl around them. One worry is that there appears to be little in reserve should any major injuries befall either of these two and the omission of Dharmasena - a proven off-spinner - may come back to haunt them.

Yet, because they are so unfancied – you can get odds of 20-1 with some bookmakers – Sri Lanka have nothing to lose. In the weaker of the two pools, they are more than capable of going through to the Super Sixes. Beyond that, well let’s wait and see.

The West Indies go into the competition as a number of people’s dark horses. Whilst it would be over-optimistic to think of them reaching the final – the schedule is not kind with two tough games first up – a semi-final berth is not beyond their compass.

These West Indians are young, cohesive, but as yet unproven. However, this competition may prove to be a new chapter in Caribbean cricket. At the helm is Carl Hooper, who has not played in a World Cup for eleven years, but has often spoken about wanting to leave a legacy to the next generation.

Although a little short of match practice, the West Indies appear to have planned well after identifying a group of players and sticking with them.

They should not be short of runs with a middle order containing Chanderpaul, Hooper, Lara, Powell, Samuels and Sarwan, who could be the pick if he continues to go from strength to strength. However, it is the explosiveness of Chris Gayle - a hard-hitting batsman and useful finger spinner - at the top of the order that could determine whether his side posts some good scores or some very good scores.

The bowling lacks star quality, but Collins, Dillon and Drakes could cause a few surprises, especially if they are ably supported behind the timbers by Ridley Jacobs.

The real question marks are over Brian Lara – will he be fit both mentally and physically? – and Marlon Samuels who pulled out of the squad, but is waiting for an eleventh hour ‘all clear’ from the West Indies’ medical staff.

Zimbabwe are a relatively inexperienced team and one you can only see doing well if they make a good start and start believing in themselves.

For many, Travis Friend is a prime example, the World Cup has come too early. Where he and the likes of Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine and Tatenda Taibu will be in four year’s time heaven only knows. With their country in such dreadful turmoil, those playing in their first World Cup would be wise to make the most of it.

Having lost the services of Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson, Zimbabwe have been forced to rebuild. They have also weeded out a few others whom one senses were not playing to their full potential. Alistair Campbell is a case in point, but the omissions of Gary Brent, Craig Evans and Stuart Carlisle were also met with surprise when the squad was announced late in December.

Amongst all the new faces, however, is the familiar figure of Andy Flower, whose wicket is as prized as any batsman in world cricket. However, apart from brother Grant and opener Mark Vermeulen, the left-hander is unlikely to receive a great deal of support.

Zimbabwe are another side who make up for their deficiencies with the bat by being expert in the field, and if Hondo, Olonga and Mariller could find some penetration the all-rounders Blignaut, Streak.and Whittal might up their game as well.

The form book does not make pleasant reading, though. All four of Zimbabwe’s main group opponents have beaten them at home in the last 18 months. But if two or three refuse to play in Harare or Bulawayo, for fear of sparking civil unrest, Heath Streak’s men could make it through to the last six almost by default.

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