Will class out?

After more than a decade of dominance that has included two World Cup triumphs, the Champions Trophy remains the one that has got away for Australia. Semi-final losses in the last two editions did little more than dent pride a little, but after an ultimately comfortable triumph in the tri-series in Malaysia, Ricky Ponting and his team are determined to head into the Ashes on a winning note. The fact that England and India, who they have never beaten at the Champions Trophy, are in their group will merely add some spice to the contests. The batting line-up, reinforced by Adam Gilchrist's return from a sabbatical, is a frightening proposition, and the addition of Mitchell Johnson has added pace and variety to a bowling attack that failed to defend 434 against South Africa six month ago. On Indian pitches, Brad Hogg's under-rated left-arm spin could be just as vital, and it's hard to see Australia heading home without at least a semi-final to show for their efforts.

One to watch Given the impact that he's made over the past 15 months, it's hard to believe that Michael Hussey spent so much time on the outer, waiting for his chance. Anyone who averages 81.75 after 43 ODIs, at a strike-rate of 99.09, must be a little special, and Hussey's ability to finesse, hustle and bludgeon in the final overs makes him an even more effective finisher than Michael Bevan. Five years ago, such a statement would have been sacrilegious.

New kid on the block Dennis Lillee intimated the world of his ability half a decade ago, but Mitchell Johnson had to struggle through years of near-crippling injury and loss of form to get his chance. In Malaysia, he certainly made the most of it, scything through India's top order in a rain-affected game. Fitness permitting, his pace and swing will trouble the very best. Just ask Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.

Key stat Australia have won 17 and lose three, with one tie, in their last 22 outings against England, while the record against India is just as imposing - 13 wins and two losses in the last 17 games.

After finishing the last season on such a high, with 18 wins in 24 outings, India crash-landed in the Caribbean, losing four on the trot after edging the first game. The slump continued in Malaysia, where they fluffed a great opportunity to put one over Australia. But back on home pitches, where the ball rarely rises above the waist and where seam movement is minimal, India will be at their most formidable. The pitches should suit a line-up full of strokemakers, and Harbhajan Singh's return to form gives them a potent spin option that few other teams possess. Anything less than a place in the last four will be a massive letdown.

One to watch Sachin Tendulkar's experience and class were certainly missed in the West Indies, and a glorious century against the same opponents on his return was one of the few bright moments in an otherwise dismal Malaysian expedition. He may be 33, but there's no sign of the hunger having abated, and the way he went after the bowlers in the recent Challenger Trophy augurs well for the bigger tests ahead. And for a man supposedly in decline, five centuries and an average of 42.06 in his last 50 outings can't be sneezed at.

New kid on the block His early forays in one-day cricket weren't convincing, but in Malaysia, Munaf Patel appeared to have made the necessary adjustments, bowling with greater accuracy and enough pace to keep the batsmen guessing. The raw talent has been refined in recent months, and his ability to extract bounce and reverse-swing the ball make him a definite threat both at the beginning and end of an innings.

Key stat India have won nine of their last 12 games against England, and they're 13-4 against all-comers at home since the start of the last season.

Of the major nations, England are the only ones with no major one-day trophy to boast of. Given the team's step-motherly attitude towards the format, encouraged perhaps by the manner in which it's summarily dismissed by much of the media, that statistic is unlikely to change anytime soon. Without Marcus Trescothick, the batting will be overly reliant on Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, and if Steve Harmison suffers from a bout of homesickness, the bowlers will struggle to escape the pasting they endured at Indian and Sri Lankan hands not so long ago. It will need a massive effort to replicate their performance of 2004, when only the doughtiness of Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne denied them the trophy.

Man to watch He certainly won't be rushed into bowling, but Flintoff's batting could be just as vital on placid Indian pitches. He batted brilliantly at times on his last visit to India, and once set, no one hits the ball as hard or as far. Few have the ability to inspire the rest of the team as he does, and every bit of encouragement will be needed if he's to coax anything from a side that are chronic underachievers in the one-day arena.

New kid on the block His offspin may not be especially penetrative, but Jamie Dalrymple has bowled enough tidy spells in a fledgling career to suggest that he could be a key component in England's one-day plans. He has also made runs, often in difficult situations, and is a handy option lower down the order.

Key stat England have won just seven of their last 25 ODIs, one of them against Ireland.