THE TEAMS | AT A GLANCE
AUSTRALIA
Why they can win: Stacked with World Cup-winning know-how and genuine pace threats. Pat Cummins has 17 wickets from his past five ODIs.
The weak spot: Lost 22 out of 26 ODIs before their current eight-match winning run. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey has just one 50 from 38 white-ball games for Australia.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Glenn Maxwell boasted a strike rate of 182 at the 2015 World Cup and sacrificed $2 million by skipping last month’s IPL to play in England on cup pitches.
Final word: The Aussies are 39-3 from their past 42 completed World Cup matches and have lifted four of the past five trophies. Oh, and Steve Smith looks primed. TIP: 3rd
ENGLAND
Why they can win: Since the last World Cup, they’ve passed 300 in 40 games and cracked
400 four times. No.10 Adil Rashid has 10 first-class tons. What depth.
The weak spot: Their bowlers can be costly, particularly the seamers. Jofra Archer’s pace adds serious X-factor, but even he is unproven at this level.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Jos Buttler could thump 100 off 40 balls. He owns five of England’s 10 fastest centuries.
Final word: Under extreme pressure after six World Cups without a semi-final. While its batting gears are unrivalled, life in the fast lane comes with the risk of a fatal crash. TIP: Champions
INDIA
Why they can win: The top three. Rohit
Sharma and Virat Kohli are ODI kings, and
Shikhar Dhawan dominates ICC tournaments.
The fast bowling brigade is at its deadliest ever.
The weak spot: It’s been musical chairs in the middle order for some time. Star spinner
Kuldeep Yadav was dropped in the IPL after taking four wickets in nine games.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Virat Kohli scored 995 runs in a 10game ODI burst last year. On flat pitches at small grounds, he is the man most likely to smash a double ton.
Final word: Tough start – South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan – but India should make semis. TIP: Runner-up
PAKISTAN
Why they can win: Always an enigma.
Scored 340-plus in three of four ODIs in England this month.
The weak spot: Sloppy fielding and possibly their quicks. Wahab Riaz, 33, hasn’t played for Pakistan for two years but may open the bowling after his shock selection. Teenagers
Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain are fast but raw.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Asif Ali smacks sixes for fun. Tragically lost his two-year-old daughter to cancer last Sunday.
Final word: Have lost 10 ODIs in a row – their worst streak since 1987-88, yet plenty of wise cricket heads suggest they are the dark horse. Much rests on Babar Azam’s bat. TIP: 4th
NEW ZEALAND
Why they can win: It’s a well-rounded attack with finger spinner Mitch Santner, and wrist spinner Ish Sodhi, joining pacemen
Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
The weak spot: Not as powerful as the Kiwi side of 2015. Colin Munroe strikes at 110 as an opener. He is no Brendan McCullum.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Trent Boult has taken more powerplay wickets than anyone else in the world in the past few years.
Final word: Everyone has to pull in the same direction for the Kiwis to cause trouble – and they usually do. The tournament smoky. TIP: 5th
SOUTH AFRICA
Why they can win: Lethal quicks Kagiso
Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris – rounded out by Imran Tahir, one of the best leggies in the world – will skittle sides.
The weak spot: The batting depth.
How do you replace AB de Villiers?
Don’t go making a cuppa: Aggressive tearaway Kagiso Rabada enters his first World Cup fresh from one of the best IPL campaigns of all time (25 wickets in 12 games).
Final word: It’s a Test match batting line-up that lacks murderous intent, but their attack is formidable. Too strong to lose to the stragglers. TIP: 6th
WEST INDIES
Why they can win: Chris Gayle wound back the clock with 135 (129 balls) and
162 (97) against England in February.
Opener Evin Lewis could be the next big thing, and Shai Hope’s average of 51 illustrates talent.
The weak spot: Spin options are still poor. Off-spinner Ashley Nurse is one of the game’s worst fielders, and Fabian Allen (0-68) was spanked by Australia in last week’s practice match.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Andre Russell has the best strike rate on the planet and bowls at frightening pace.
Final word: Can post 400, but lack bite with the ball. Likely to be on back foot after games against Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and England to start. TIP: 7th
AFGHANISTAN
Why they can win: Spin kings Rashid Khan,
Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi provide access to 30 overs of elite turn.
The weak spot: Big keeper Mohammad
Shahzad gives it a tonk, but the rest of the batting lacks punch.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Adelaide Strikers mystery spinner Rashid Khan is harder to pick than Melbourne’s weather. His 125 ODI wickets since the 2015 World Cup ranks No.2 in the world.
Final word: Capable of bowling teams out but lack the weapons to win more than three or four games. TIP: 8th
BANGLADESH
Why they can win: Middle-order bastsmen Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib
Al Hasan have combined for 578 ODIs and know how to pace a successful run chase.
The weak spot: Tamim Iqbal hits a clean ball, but the batting lacks dynamite.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Cheeky all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was promoted to No.3 in the recent tri-series in Ireland and wants to stay there.
Final word: Beat Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka en route to the 2018 Asia Cup final, where they lost to India on the last ball. A canny line-up in their best format. Will push teams. TIP: 9th
SRI LANKA
Why they can win: They can’t, but batsman
Kusal Mendis and all-rounder Thisara Perera are possible game-breakers.
The weak spot: Captain Dimuth Karunaratne is regarded by some as too slow for Test cricket, and yet he’s set to open in the most explosive tournament ever.
Don’t go making a cuppa: Thisara Perera’s is one of the fastest scorers in the world, with his career strike rate of 112.3 ranking No.10 in ODI history.
Final word: Legends Kumar Sangakarra, Mahela Jayawardena and Tillakaratne Dilshan have not been adequately replaced.
TIP: Last (winless)