Now for the World Cup: How other leading nations are preparing for the big one-day challenge

Australia

Recent one-day form

Owing to domestic competitions have been largely inactive before the current World Series in which they won the first stage with five wins and three defeats. Yesterday they narrowly beat Sri Lanka to take the finals series 2-0.

Established

stars

Leg-spinner Shane Warne, tipped to be the star of the competition and currently in prime form, is considering withdrawing following death threats. The Waugh brothers, Mark and Steve, lead a strong list of n all-rounders.

Emerging

players

Yorkshire's Michael Bevan, 25, was recalled last month and has been a huge success, scoring almost 400 runs while being dismissed only twice. Ricky Ponting, 21, and Stuart Law, 27, are also making runs and all three can bowl effectively.

Prospects

Despite good form, the unofficial champions of Test cricket face a stern test. Bribery and ball-tampering scandals involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka have guaranteed a hostile welcome. Odds: 100-30 (fav).

India

The joint-hosts are unbeaten in five years of home one-day series but struggled to beat New Zealand 3-2 in November. Some former players have questioned the wisdom of three months without internationals before a World Cup.

Vice-captain Sachin Tendulkar is set to open for India and is ably supported by captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli. Of the bowlers, spinner Anil Kumble will look to exploit home pitches carefully tailored to his needs.

The Indians are likely to field a very experienced side in which Tendulkar, now 22, and Kambli, 24, are among the youngest players. Keeper Nayan Mongia, 26, and Asish Kapoor, 24, are both wristy strokeplayers capable of rapid scoring.

The matches against New Zealand raised questions about India's perceived invincibility at home. Their fielding is below par but they still have a good chance of matching high expectations. Odds: 7-2.

New Zealand

A 3-2 defeat in India and a 2-2 home draw with Pakistan are a source of some encouragement for New Zealand. Three home games with Zimbabwe (28 and 31 Jan, 3 Feb) should prove a useful exercise for a maturing side.

Chris Cairns of Nottinghamshire is finally realising his vast potential and will be heavily relied upon to contribute with both bat and ball. Experienced pace bowler Danny Morrison is a steady influence in a youthful side.

Following a recent clear-out even New Zealand's 27-year-old captain Lee Germon is relatively new to international cricket. The World Cup provides a chance for elegant left-handed batsman Stephen Fleming, 22, to establish himself.

In spite of a recent upturn in form, a semi-final spot seems unlikely for a side missing 1992's player of the tournament, the retired Martin Crowe. Coach Glenn Turner and his squad remain upbeat. Odds: 25-1.

Pakistan

The embarrassment of a home defeat by Sri Lanka and then last place in the Champions Trophy in Sharjah has been tempered by slightly improved performances in New Zealand, but Pakistan are still underachieving.

Inzamam-ul-Haq has gradually matured since the 1992 tournament and is a highly dangerous batsman. Mushtaq Ahmed returned to form in and will team up with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to form a fearsome bowling line-up.

Like the Indians, Pakistan will be relying largely on experience. With opportunities for the younger squad members limited, promising fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman, just 20, and spinner Saqlain Mushtaq may have to take their chances early.

Appalling 1995 form has improved slightly and their bowlers are fit and motivated, but the return to the international fold of the controversial Javed Miandad threatens the stability of team morale. Odds: 4-1.

South Africa

South Africa enjoyed two comfortable wins in Zimbabwe in October. With the momentum gained in the Test victory in Cape Town, they have shown themselves well suited to the one-day game, building up a winning 5-1 lead over England.

Allan Donald's blistering pace attacks will strike fear into batsmen, even on the slowest of pitches. The South Africans can also boast the world's finest all-rounder in the combative Brian McMillan and a stylish strokeplayer in Daryll Cullinan.

While the past two weeks have exposed teenager Paul Adams' fielding, 22-year-old Shaun Pollock's stock as an international all-rounder has grown yet further and batsman Jacques Kallis, 20, has looked more confident than in the Tests.

Although the batting is suspiciously fragile, a semi-final place is the very least they will expect. Coach Bob Woolmer has developed the best fielding side in the world and confidence is sky-high. Odds: 5-1.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka followed up a stunning two-one win in Pakistan with a 50-run success over the West Indies in the Champions Trophy final in Sharjah. They won four of their eight matches in the World Series before succumbing to in the final.

Aravinda de Silva remains at the heart of a strong batting line- up, but has been struggling for form in . Hashan Tillekaratne has picked up the slack and if both click at once they will take a lot of pressure off their bowling attack.

The World Series has unearthed a real gem in diminutive wicket- keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, 26. After being promoted to opener he responded with several flamboyant displays, once reaching 50 in just 32 balls in a victory over .

Buoyed by recent exploits, Sri Lanka are well equipped to challenge strongly. Steady bowling and enthusiastic fielding complements the aggressive batting and victory is not beyond them. Odds: 10-1.

West Indies

Their form of late is nothing short of disastrous. They were thrashed by Sri Lanka in October's Champions Trophy final and this month, without Brian Lara, they came last in the World Series in , winning just three games out of eight.

The good news for the West Indies is Brian Lara's decision to rejoin the team after patching up his disagreements with the West Indian Board over discipline. Without him the batting is weak, but they still have Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

One of the reasons for the current turmoil in West Indian cricket is the lack of anyone emerging to help out the established players. All- rounder Ottis Gibson, 26, was the only bright spot of the disappointing World Series campaign in .

The long-time non-pareils of world cricket are engulfed in a serious crisis. In the wake of recent flops, the prospect of a unified team charging to glory in Lahore appears unlikely. Odds: 11-2.

Zimbabwe

Currently facing New Zealand in a two-Test series, they have played no one-day cricket since a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of South Africa last October. They have three matches in New Zealand after the Second Test (28 and 31 Jan, 3 Feb).

The undoubted star of Zimbabwean cricket is Heath Streak, who has supplemented a series of inspired bowling displays with some useful lower-order contributions with the bat. Brothers Grant and Andy Flower provide some classy batting.

In a competition where good all-rounders are priceless, 23-year- old Guy Whittall and Paul Strang, 25, may hold the key to Zimbabwe's chances of progress. Both made useful contributions recently against New Zealand.

Still acclimatising themselves to regular international competition, their form in Tests is better than in one-dayers and they will need to perform miracles to make it through a tough group. Odds: 150-1.