Australia still the ones to beat

Best performance: Winners 1987, 1999, 2003
2003: Winners
Price:9/4

Winners in 1987, 1999 and 2003 and the undisputed kings of all forms of the game, Australia, for all their injury problems, still hold all the aces going into the tournament as they chase a third straight victory.

The retirements of Shane Warne and Justin Langer have put a hole in the Australia side, while the loss of Brett Lee is a big blow.

Andrew Symonds is doubtful with injury but inspite of that and with Glenn McGrath enjoying his last hurrah, the Aussies are still the best one-day side in the world, with more match-winners in their side than anyone else.

Captain Ricky Ponting, wicket-keeper batsman extraordinaire Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke are all capable of turning a match on its head with big innings while McGrath is still a world-class performer with the ball.

As a fielding side, they have no equals though much will depend on whether Symonds makes it. The England-born man is a destructive batsman and the World Cup could be his stage.

They have won 13 of their last 20 matches and though they managed to throw away the one-day series with England and New Zealand, that could well be the kick up the proverbial that they need to get them fully focused for the World Cup.

The biggest thing in their favour is that the other teams are not really sure that they can beat them, even in a one-off game. That just adds to the confidence of their own players, and they will take all the beating again.

Player to watch: Michael Hussey
In much the same way that Michael Bevan held the side together in the mid-to-late 1990s, Michael Hussey is already making a name for himself as the perfect closer.

The left-hander has as sound a technique as you can hope to find, particularly in a left-hander, who has to deal with the ball going across him more often than not.

His efforts in the Ashes were outstanding and in one-day cricket, he averages a phenomenal 68, which is amazing for a No 6. And that includes a few poor scores at the end of the Commonwealth Bank series.

Prediction:
Winners
Though they slipped up against England, they have the depth and the mental strength to get things right when it matters most.