Why Australia should win the World Cup

JOHANNESBURG - Australia should win the World Cup.

It's that simple.

Ricky Ponting is the captain who, when players from all nations are paraded at Newlands in Cape Town tomorrow night for the opening ceremony, will have the most faith in the 14 surrounding him.

Australia has some of the best bowlers: Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne.

"I think we stack up very well with the other countries - very well," said McGrath.

"We've got all areas covered. Very good fast bowlers, very good spinners, very good medium pacers, we've got all bases covered. We're very happy with what we've got."

They have the best line-up of batsmen: Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ponting, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann and Jimmy Maher.

"We probably couldn't be much happier with the bat," said Ponting.

Some of the best fielders: Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg.

"The one-day game is a chance to show your skills, dive around in the field - Ricky is the best in the world and other blokes in our side are exciting to watch. I enjoy watching them from first slip," said Warne.

The best wicketkeeper-batsman: Gilchrist.

"We really don't know and understand how good Adam Gilchrist is to 'keep for that long and at that standard, which is outstanding, then come out and flay attacks like he does with a minimum of fuss," said Maher.

Arguably the best tacticians: Ponting, Warne, Gilchrist, coach John Buchanan.

"We talk tactics normally a night or two before the game," said McGrath.

"We sit down and have a team meeting, a planning session. We look at certain players and discuss plans we have for each opposition batsman and also how we're going to face each bowler.

"It's very well planned and thought out these days, most of it on computer.

"We can type in any ball, any shot, anything we want to see.

"We can find out the results of every possible delivery. If there's a short ball outside off stump, we can see where it goes more often than not from a particular batsman.

"Video technology plays a big part in getting us ready."

The coolest head: Bevan.

"All I try and do is ... make sure I give myself options," he said.

"I guess I know what works for me, the shots that I can play, the shots I can't.

"Just having a clear objective in the tight stages of matches is important."

And they have the wood on every other nation, especially the hosts.

"We've definitely got a psychological hold over South Africa," said Warne.

"The results prove that in all the different forms and the major games we've played against them.

"When it's got to the crunch, we've managed to beat them or they've been in a winning situation and we've come back to win."

There's an easy way to win a World Cup and a hard way.

West Indies did it the easy way in 1975 and 1979 when they swept all before them.

Australia did it the hard way in 1999 when two early losses to Pakistan and New Zealand left it needing six straight wins and a tie to lift the trophy.

As thrilling as that charge home was, Gilchrist wants no repeat.

"I wouldn't think the best way to go is getting ourselves in a sudden-death stage after three games like we did in '99 - not good for your health, that," said Gilchrist.

"I don't know that there's any blueprint, any successful formula to winning the World Cup.

"We won last time after very ordinary games in the first three games.

"Pakistan, I guess, were very similar in 1992 in that they started slowly and really built the momentum up.

"But what's to say you can't go and win every match?

"We're confident and we're looking forward to the tournament."

Let the games begin.