[Editor's note: The following story appears in ESPNcricinfo's 2015 Cricket World Cup Special Guide. Click here to purchase your copy.]

Which teams will surprise? Which country will raise the Cup? Our experts made their predictions:

Ian Chappell

Chappell was Australia's Test captain from 1971 to 1975 (Cup finalists); never lost a Test series as captain.

Favourite: Australia
Dark-horse pick: West Indies
Breakout star, Pool A: Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
Breakout star, Pool B: Rohit Sharma (India)

Jonathan Trott

Trott played 49 Tests and 68 ODIs for England (2009-13); second-highest scorer in the Champions Trophy in 2013.

Favourite: Australia
Dark-horse pick: New Zealand
Breakout star, Pool A: Jos Buttler (England)
Breakout star, Pool B: Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar took 288 wickets in 191 ODIs for India; set then-record for fastest 50 ODI wickets (23 games).

Favourite: South Africa
Dark-horse pick: New Zealand
Breakout star, Pool A: Aaron Finch (Australia)
Breakout star, Pool B: Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

Ramiz Raja

Raja was key member of Pakistan's World Cup-winning side in 1992; made 700 runs at 53.84 in 16 World Cup games.

Favourite: South Africa
Dark-horse pick: New Zealand
Breakout star, Pool A: David Warner (Australia)
Breakout star, Pool B: Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan)

Russel Arnold

Arnold reached the World Cup final with Sri Lanka in 2007; scored 3,950 runs in 180 ODIs.

Favourite: Australia
Dark-horse pick: New Zealand
Breakout star, Pool A: Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
Breakout star, Pool B: Quinton de Kock (South Africa)