AUSTRALIA-the defending champions and the strongest one-day international team in the world.This team has hardly been beaten in recent times and are hot favourites to win the World Cup.Their main strength is not just their world class players like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath but also their ability to play as a team.There is hardly any doubt that they would not accomplish their feat of becoming the first team to win the Cricket World Cup three times.However,they could end up doing what France and Argentina did when they were considered favourites to win the 2002 Football World Cup,getting knock out in the first round.However,as it stands now,this seems impossible.

BANGLADESH-newcomers to international test cricket,they have had a rough time losing at least ten of their eleven test matches in a row.This team has been severly criticised somewhat harshly for being given test status too early but they did very well in their second test against the West Indies in a recent series.As a one-day team,they are somewhat better and this was proven in the 1999 World Cup when they defeated Pakistan.However,their poor performance in the ICC Championship certainly did not help team morale.However,coming into the 2003 cricket World Cup,they have something to prove and if their opponents are not careful,Bangladesh may humiliate them.Thus,even though Bangladesh is a real darkhorse,keep an eye on them.

CANADA-Another newcomer to the 2003 Cricket World Cup.This is really not true somewhat.Canada did particpate in the 1979 World Cup but were beaten soundly.It is a bit of a mystery as to why their cricket did not improve after this.However,they seem to be on the rise again.In recent times,they played in the 2002 West Indies One-Day Cricket Tournament and almost qualified for the semi-finals but they were stopped by the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team.What was amazing about this was that they played against players who had and one-day international experience like Ridley Jacobs and Brian Lara.Thus,with luck,they could do some damage in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

ENGLAND-this team has been somewhat unlucky when it comes to one-day cricket.In Cricket World Cup history,they stand as the only team to have a record of reaching the finals on three occassions and not winning.England is a good one-day team when they are ready.They have good all-rounders like Dominic Cork,good bowlers like Darren Gough and good batsmen like Alex Stewart and Graham Thorpe.What they lack is a world-class player like Sachin Tendulkar,Brian Lara or Steve Waugh.This team has the potenetial to win the 2003 Cricket World Cup if they play to their full potential and if a bit of luck is on their side.Other than this,they may only make the Super Six round and get knocked out.

INDIA-This team is somewhat underachievers.Their test home-record in terms of home victories are one of the best in the history of test cricket but their away record is one of the worst.With a batting line-up that consist of some of the best players in the world like Sachin Tendulkar,Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid and a bowling line-up that consist of Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath,India should be rivalling Australia as one of the greats.However,this does not mean that they are not dangerous.When they are at their best,they are a dangerous force as was seen in their winning the tri-nation series in England and the ICC Championship.If they are able to play to this standard,the World Cup could be theirs.

KENYA-this team perhaps is the best of the qualifiers to the World Cup.This team has been around the block since the 1996 World Cup when they defeated the West Indies.They have two top class players in Maurice Odumbe and Tikolo.As a team,Kenya seems ready for test status and might do well in the World Cup if they play to their full potential.They may not win it but they will sure make an impact.

NAMIBIA-the newest team on the block.Not much is known about them but if they qualified for the World Cup,it means they have some potential.They may not be expecting much from this tournamentbut the experience will do them fine.

NETHERLANDS-they are not the Dutch football team and they too may not have a serious impact in the Cricket World Cup.However,they may perform creditably as they did in the 2002 ICC Championship and gain some experience along the way.

NEW ZEALAND-New Zealand has a good track record when it comes to the World Cup.They made the semi-fianls in 1992,quarter-fianls in 1996 and semi-finals in 1999.They should have won it in 1992 when they defeated everyone but Pakistan.Normally,New Zealand is sometimes underestimated but they are dangerous force who actually defeated Australia in Australia in a tri-nation series in 2002.Their main strenghth is playing as a well organised unit with players like Chris Cairns,Shane Bond and Chris Harris but their main weakness is not having a world class player.They should at least make the Super-Six round of the 2003 Cricket World Cup and may win it if they play to their full potential.

PAKISTAN-what can be said about this side?This team possesses a pool of talent and world class players like Wasim Akram,Waqar Younis,Saqlain Mustaq,Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Shoib Akhtar just to name a few.This team ought to be a world class team like Australia and South Africa but for some reason,they cannot attain that level.In recent times,they have been going through a lean period and if they continue like this,they will not even see the Super Six round of the World Cup.However,they won the World Cup in 1992 when they were on the brink of elimination.If they pull themselves together,a lot of their opponents will be in trouble.It is up to them.

SOUTH AFRICA.the host nation and another one of the favourites to win the World Cup.With players like Jack Kallis and Shaun Pollock,it should not be difficult.Their strength is that they play as an extremely organised unit and they have no mercy on their opponents.Their one and perhaps only weakness is that unlike Australia,they choke.Whenever the big moment comes,they fall apart.Some worthy examples include the 1999 World Cup when in the semi-finals against Australia,with one run to win,they somehow found a way to lose.Another example is the 2002 ICC Championship when in the semi-finals they were cruising to victory against India and all of a sudden collapsed.Despite this,they should make the finals and even win the tournament.

SRI LANKA-after Australia,between the period 1999-2003,they have won the second mos number of tournaments.Sri Lanka have become one of the toughest sides to defeat in one-day cricket.Their main weakness is that they have trouble playing on bouncy wickets and this could severly hamper them in the 2003 World Cup.If they are able to overcome this problem,they are going to be tough to defeat.

WEST INDIES-the former greats of the game.Ever since their first test after fifteen years in 1995,they have been on a downward trend.However,the team going to the 2003 World Cup is the strongest they have fielded since 1986.If their youngsters like Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels and their experience players like Brian Lara and Carl Hooper fire,they may make it all the way.

ZIMBABWE-this team is coming into the World Cup with controversy over their country but if this does not affect them,they will do well.