ICC Cricket World Cup - The Teams
Group A
Fixtures: (All games to be played in St Kitts)
March 14 Australia v Scotland
March 16 Netherlands v South Africa
March 18 Australia v Netherlands
March 20 Scotland v South Africa
March 22 Netherlands v Scotland
March 24 Australia v South Africa
Australia
One Day International (ODI) World Ranking: 2
Star Player: Ricky Ponting
Last 3 World Cups: 2003 Winners, 1999 Winners, 1996 Runners-up
Chances: Despite a recent run of poor performances the Aussies have a habit of performing when it matters. They remain the team to beat and will not give up their crown lightly.
South Africa
ODI World Ranking: 1
Star Player: Jacques Kallis
Last 3 World Cups: 2003 Pool Match, 1999: Semi Final, 1996: Quarter Final
Chances: Entering the tournament as the top one day team will mean the South Africans are full of confidence. Expect them to be there or thereabouts.
Scotland
ODI World Ranking: N/A
Star Player: Ryan Watson
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: N/A, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: N/A
Chances: Scotland will be heading home after three matches.
The Netherlands
ODI World Ranking: N/A
Star Player: Daan Van Bunge
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: N/A, 1996: Pool Match
Chances: Absolutely no hope of progressing out of the group stage.
Group B
Fixtures: (All games to be played in Trinidad)
March 15 Bermuda v Sri Lanka
March 17 Bangladesh v India
March 19 Bermuda v India
March 21 Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
March 23 India v Sri Lanka
March 25 Bangladesh v Bermuda
Sri Lanka
ODI World Ranking: 6
Star Player: Sanath Jayasuriya
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Semi Final, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: Winner
Chances: Should progress through the group stage without too much difficulty, but are likely to come up short in the Super 8s.
India
ODI World Ranking: 5
Star Player: Sachin Tendulkar.
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Runners-up, 1999: Super Six, 1996: Semi Final
Chances: Having recently beaten Sri Lanka in a series, India should top the group and could make the semi finals.
Bangladesh
ODI World Ranking: 9
Star Player: Shahriar Nafees
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: N/A
Chances: They have beaten the Aussies in the one day format in the past so they are by no means a pushover, but if the group goes to form they will finish third.
Bermuda
ODI World Ranking: N/A
Star Player: David Hemp
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: N/A, 1999: N/A, 1996: N/A
Chances: It is simply a case of making up the numbers for the boys from Bermuda.
Group C
Fixtures: (All games to be played in St Lucia)
March 14 Canada v Kenya
March 16 England v New Zealand
March 18 Canada v England
March 20 Kenya v New Zealand
March 22 Canada v New Zealand
March 24 England v Kenya
England
ODI World Ranking: 7
Star Player: Kevin Pietersen
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: Quarter Final
Chances: It really depends on which England team turns up. Victory in a recent tri-series tournament against Australia and New Zealand showed England have potential but they are still prone to batting collapses and the bowling attack lacks penetration. Will do well to progress past the Super 8 stage.
New Zealand
ODI World Ranking: 3
Star Player: Jacob Oram
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Super Six, 1999: Semi Final, 1996: Quarter Final.
Chances: Could be the dark horses of the tournament. They have just beaten the Australians three times in a row and have a very strong batting line-up. Could well be competing in the final on April 28.
Kenya
ODI World Ranking: 11
Star Player: Steve Tikolo
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Semi Final, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: Pool Match.
Chances: Stunned the cricket world in 2003 by making the semi finals of the World Cup but are unlikely to reach such dizzy heights this time round. An early flight home for the Kenyans is the most likely outcome.
Canada
ODI World Ranking: N/A
Star Player: John Davison
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: N/A, 1996: N/A.
Chances: Canada have won only one match out nine that they have played in the World Cup in the past. Their match against Kenya should decide who comes third and fourth in Group C.
Group D
Fixtures: (All games to be played in Jamaica)
March 13 West Indies v Pakistan
March 15 Ireland v Zimbabwe
March 17 Ireland v Pakistan
March 19 West Indies v Zimbabwe
March 21 Pakistan v Zimbabwe
March 23 Ireland v West Indies
West Indies
ODI World Ranking: 8
Star Player: Chris Gayle
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: Pool Match, 1996: Semi Final.
Chances: The West Indies will relish playing in front of their own fans but history is against them as no host team has ever won the competition. They aren’t in the best of form at the moment but they do have a talented squad that is capable of mixing it with the best and a semi final place is not out of the question.
Pakistan
ODI World Ranking: 4
Star Player: Shahid Afridi
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Pool Match, 1999: Final, 1996: Quarter Final.
Chances: Put firmly in their place by a strong South African one-day side in a recent series but they have as good a chance as any of making the semis.
Zimbabwe
ODI World Ranking: 10
Star Player: Prosper Utseya
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: Super Six, 1999: Super Six, 1996: Pool Match.
Chances: An inexperienced squad has been drawn in a tough group and has little hope of reaching the Super 8s.
Ireland
ODI World Ranking: N/A
Star Player: Eoin Morgan
Last 3 World Cups: 2003: N/A, 1999: N/A, 1996: N/A.
Chances: Unlike the Irish rugby union team, the cricket team has absolutely no chance whatsoever of any success. They are likely to return home after three defeats out of three.