CRICKET WORLD CUP
GROUP A
AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND + ENGLAND + SRI LANKA +
BANGLADESH + SCOTLAND + AFGHANISTAN
AUSTRALIA
ICC World ranking 1
Coach Darren Lehmann
Captain Michael Clarke
Rest of squad George Bailey (vc), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty
World Cup best Winners 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007
Recent ODI form WWW|WLWWW|WWWW|WW
Australia returned to the world number one spot in ODI cricket in November - and, on recent form, do not look remotely close to relinquishing it. Indeed, the Baggy Greens head into a first home World Cup for 23 years on the back of nine successive ODI wins as part of a wider run of 13 wins out of 14.
Yes, it now seems an awfully long time ago since August 2013 when Australia's national summer sport had reached its nadir following three successive Ashes series defeats. But, even towards the end of the 3-0 loss to England in 2013, the then-newly-appointed coach Darren Lehmann was sowing the seeds of success by experimenting with his side in search of the right balance.
The 5-0 whitewash in the return Ashes series of 2013-14, completed by just 11 players, could not have been a more emphatic response - and, while the World Cup lends itself more to the full squad of 15, this is undoubtedly the most well-balanced side in the tournament. Flair with the bat is regularly produced by openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, while the likes of Steven Smith and Brad Haddin can graft a big score in the middle order. Meanwhile, in the bowling attack, Mitchell Johnson's ferocious pace faces fierce competition from his namesake Mitchell Starc.
On the other hand, the spin options - Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell - remain useful but far from legendary and the only other major worry is that skipper Michael Clarke is surely not match-fit following a succession of hamstring and back injuries. That being so, it is still hard to argue with the bookmakers' view that Australia are 2/1 favourites to win a record fifth world title.
Prediction: Winners
NEW ZEALAND
ICC World ranking 6
Coach Mike Hesson
Captain Brendon McCullum
Rest of squad Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Tom Latham (wk), Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson (vc), Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Luke Ronchi (wk), Ross Taylor
World Cup best Semi finals 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011
Recent ODI form LL|LWLWW|WLWWWL|WW|W
Not just Australia arrive as hosts to the Cricket World Cup 2015 in good shape, however. New Zealand have also had a massively impressive 12 months, winning five Tests in a calendar year for the first time in 2014, and taking that form into the shorter formats.
The Black Caps officially open the tournament against Sri Lanka in Christchurch, just a week short of the four-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake which hit the city and claimed 186 lives. It will be an emotional occasion then - but, in terms of the game itself, Sri Lanka should hold no fear for the home side, the Kiwis having recently won 4-2 in an ODI series against their opponents, even if the tourists back then were shorn of Lasith Malinga.
Appearances at the semi final stage of the last two World Cups have taken the Black Caps' tally to six overall - but, remarkably, New Zealand have never made it into a single final. Nevertheless, some big hitting from Ross Taylor and skipper Brendon McCullum - backed up by a thrilling seam attack led by Tim Southee and Trent Boult - could soon change that.
Prediction: Semi finals (again)
ENGLAND
ICC World ranking 5
Coach Peter Moores
Captain Eoin Morgan
Rest of squad Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes
World Cup best Runners-up 1979, 1987, 1992
Recent ODI form LLWLWLL|LWLWL|WL
England have had a typically bizarre build-up to the World Cup, opting to change captains with just eight weeks to go. The end of Alastair Cook's ODI captaincy made for painful viewing with the Essex man given one last chance in Sri Lanka in autumn. Cook could not take it, finishing the series with a high score of 34, as England crashed to a 5-2 defeat.
In his place, Irish-born middle order batsman Eoin Morgan has overseen a slight upturn in form - India were beaten twice in the Tri-series and West Indies thrashed in a warm-up. But, against Australia in the Tri-series, England were beaten three times as the pace of Mitchell Johnson once again proved too much.
Psychological scars from the awful Ashes whitewash last winter have been denied by Morgan - but he was not on that full tour, and they may still be there for some of the others who were. We will not have long to find out - England face Australia again in the opening match before going onto meet the other hosts, New Zealand, inside the first week.
Of course, last winter's Ashes were moved there away from this winter to ensure England arrived Down Under in a fresh and orderly fashion. But, if anything, the build-up to this tournament has been more disorderly than ever before - and now even replacement captain Morgan has had his place in the side put into the spotlight after a run of poor form.
In the last World Cup, England produced, more by accident than design, some simply brilliant games: they tied with India, beat South Africa and West Indies but somehow lost to both Ireland and Bangladesh. With still few signs of consistency showing, expect another rollercoaster ride this time.
Prediction: Quarter finals
SRI LANKA
ICC World ranking 4
Coach Marvan Atapattu
Captain Angelo Mathews
Rest of squad Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne (vc), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake
World Cup best Winners 1996
Recent ODI form LLLLL|WWLWLWW|LWLLLW|LL
Sri Lanka received a huge boost on the eve of their World Cup opener against hosts New Zealand with unorthodox round-arm fast-bowler Lasith Malinga passed fit to play. The 31-year-old has not featured in an ODI since the end of August and so sat out the Sri Lankans 4-2 series defeat to the New Zealanders immediately before the tournament.
But Malinga, who is the only bowler in the world to have two World Cup hat-tricks, will ensure the Sri Lankans are far more competitive - and, despite ongoing poor results in the run-up to the tournament, another run to the final week of the tournament cannot be ruled out.
After all, having finished runners-up in the last two World Cups, time is of the essence for this Sri Lanka generation. Murali Muralitharan has, of course, already retired and some of the finest batsmen in the world - Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, and Kumar Sangakkara - will all be over 40 years old by the time that the next World Cup comes around. It really is now or never for Sri Lanka.
Prediction: Quarter finals
BANGLADESH
ICC World ranking 9
Coach Chandika Hathurusingha
Captain Mashrafe Mortaza
Rest of squad Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan (vc), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Taijul Islam
World Cup best Super Eights 2007
Recent ODI form WWWWW|LL
Will the 2015 Cricket World Cup be the tournament in which Bangladesh finally shine? Sadly, an answer in the negative can already probably be given. Really, it was the 2011 tournament, in which they had all their matches at home, that was the Tigers' big chance - and, while they briefly roared by beating England, it all ended in a whimper when they were bowled out for just 78 against South Africa having earlier been bundled out for 58 by West Indies.
This time, hopes are not so high - and, with the exception of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh are more reliant on a flash of individual brilliance than any of the other full ICC members. That may come opener Tamim Iqbal or, more likely, Shakib Al Hasan, currently his country’s leading run scorer in ODIs and second top wicket-taker.
But, far from eyeing up a second big World Cup win over England towards the end of the group stage on 9 March, Bangladesh need to be seriously mindful of being the subject of an upset themselves against Associate members Scotland and Afghanistan. A warm-up defeat to Ireland, in which they were bowled out for 189, suggests they could be vulnerable.
Prediction: Group stage
SCOTLAND
ICC World ranking 13
Coach Grant Bradburn
Captain Preston Mommsen
Rest of squad Kyle Coetzer (vc), Richie Berrington, Frederick Coleman, Matthew Cross (wk), Joshua Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Robert Taylor, Iain Wardlaw
World Cup best Group stages 1999, 2007
Recent ODI form LLW|WL
Scotland return to the Cricket World Cup scene after missing out in 2011, securing their place this time by reaching the final of the ICC World Cup qualifier in New Zealand. For good measure, the Scots won the Final against the United Arab Emirates by 41 runs with man-of-the-series Preston Mommsen hitting a massive 139 not out.
South Africa-born Mommsen will skipper a team which can call upon the vast experience of former England captain Paul Collingwood - although the head coach is the former New Zealand international Grant Bradburn. Both will have been impressed by the Scots' recent form which included a warm-up win over Ireland last week by 179 runs. Matt Machan hit the century this time before Alasdair Evans (4-17) and spinner Majid Haq (3-9) did the damage with the ball.
All eyes are already on the clash with England on 23 February - but, while the English famously lost to Ireland four years ago, it would surely still be asking too much of the Scots to repeat the upset. Nevertheless, the Scots will hope there will be some sort of opportunity to make the headlines in the next four weeks - and will hope to keep their nerve better than in 1999 when, in front of a home crowd in Edinburgh, they fell 22 runs short of chasing a highly-achievable 185 against Bangladesh. Revenge of sorts in the repeat of that fixture, on 5 March, is surely a more achievable goal.
Prediction: Group stage
AFGHANISTAN
ICC World ranking 11
Coach Andy Moles
Captain Mohammad Nabi
Rest of squad Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Afsar Zazai (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani
World Cup best Never previously qualified
Recent ODI form LLWL|WLLW|LW
Considering recent history, an Afghani cricket team sounds quite remarkable. Indeed it is - and this squad of 15 players will spend the next four weeks attempting to put their war-ravaged country into a news story which does not also contain the words "bomb" or "cave", "Taliban" or "Al-Qaeda".
Oddly enough, formal membership of the ICC actually began under Taliban control, cricket being the only sport in Afghanistan to be approved by the authorities - but it is only in the last few years that the really big strides have been made. Despite failing to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, the Afghanis won ODI status in 2009 - and set about making good use of it.
During the 2011–13 ICC World Cricket League Championship, they won nine and lost just four of their 14 matches to finish second behind Ireland and make it to their first World Cup finals. Form since has been patchy - but they have already managed wins over their fellow Associates members Scotland, Ireland and UAE this year - and so fully deserve to join the others at the top table.
Prediction: Group stage
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