POOL A

AFGHANISTAN

The Northern Echo:

Given their country’s war-torn recent past, it is a major achievement for Afghanistan’s cricketers just to have made it to their first World Cup finals. They will do well to avoid finishing bottom of their pool, having lost 3-1 to the United Arab Emirates in a recent ODI series.

Star Man: Samiullah Shenwari – the all-rounder averages 36.35 with the bat and 30.34 with the ball, and has eight ODI half-centuries to his name.

Odds: 1,000-1

 

AUSTRALIA

The Northern Echo:

The co-hosts will start as worthy favourites, having lost just one of their last 13 one-day matches. They boast the best pace attack in the tournament, with Mitch Starc and Josh Hazelwood joining supporting Mitchell Johnson, and some of the biggest hitters in the likes of Aaron Finch and David Warner.

Star Man: Mitchell Johnson – the hard Australian pitches will make the new ball crucial, and no one will relish lining up against Johnson’s hostile pace.

Odds: 2-1 Fav

 

BANGLADESH

The Northern Echo:

The best of the second-tier sides in the tournament, Bangladesh are more than capable of making life difficult for some of the big boys. Conditions might not be ideal for their spin-heavy attack, but last October’s win over New Zealand proved their batsmen are capable of compiling a competitive score.

Star Man: Shakib Al Hasan – the value of the all-rounder’s left-arm finger spin was apparent as he impressed for Melbourne Renegades during the recent Big Bash.

Odds: 250-1

 

ENGLAND

The Northern Echo:

Having endured a chaotic build-up to the World Cup that featured the axing of former captain Alastair Cook, England have suddenly discovered a modicum of form. Their pace attack should be more than capable of holding its own, but despite some useful talent in the batting line-up, a collapse always looks possible.

Star Man: Ian Bell – the 32-year-old’s return at the top of the order has added some solidity to England’s batting. But can he score quickly enough in the crucial early overs?

Odds: 8-1

 

NEW ZEALAND

The Northern Echo:

Generally under-rated, co-hosts New Zealand have actually attracted a bit of attention in the build-up to this tournament. It is full deserved. Semi-finalists at the last two World Cups and winners of five of their last six ODI series, the Black Caps boast some explosive batsmen, a couple of lively strike bowlers and a reliable spin option.

Star Man: Brendon McCullum – the big-hitting captain has been in sensational form recently, and is at the forefront of a small group of batsmen capable of winning a game by themselves.

Odds: 5-1 

 

SCOTLAND

The Northern Echo: Gavin Hamilton, left, is unavailable for East Bierley this weekend as he is playing for Scotland

With Durham skipper Paul Collingwood as part of their coaching team, the Scots will be hoping to do better than at their two previous World Cups, where they failed to win a game. The Durham links continue courtesy of Calum McLeod, and skipper Kyle Coetzer, who used to play at the Riverside, but it would be a huge surprise if Scotland made it out of the pool.

Star Man: Calum MacLeod – The all-rounder made quite an impression with Durham towards the end of last season, and should find Australian and New Zealand conditions to his liking.

Odds: 2,500-1

 

SRI LANKA

The Northern Echo:

Always a dangerous one-day side, the current Sri Lanka line-up does not look to be of the same vintage as the teams that reached the semi-finals at four of the last five World Cups. Their spinners could struggle to make an impact, although their explosive batting line-up is always capable of posting a high score.

Star Man: Kumar Sangakkara – This is almost certain to be the 37-year-old’s final World Cup, but the former Durham player remains one of the most attractive batsmen on display.

Odds: 10-1

 

POOL B

IRELAND

The Northern Echo:

Having beaten England at the 2011 World Cup and made the super-eight stage in 2007, Ireland have a decent pedigree at this level. The man who should be their best player – Eoin Morgan – is skippering England, but Ed Joyce and the O’Brien brothers will guarantee some fireworks and the Irish are more than capable of pulling off another shock.

Star Man: William Porterfield – The left-handed skipper generally forms the bedrock of the Irish innings, and boasts six ODI centuries and ten half-centuries to his name.

Odds: 750-1

 

INDIA

The Northern Echo:

Normally one of the most respected one-day sides in the world, India enter this tournament in something of a shambles, having suffered heavy recent defeats to England and Australia. The team is in transition, having lost almost all of its former batting stars, and the lack of a reliable pace attack could be a major factor against the better teams.

Star Man: MS Dhoni - the wicketkeeper-captain is the glue holding together a squad that is still going through a process of evolution. With 254 ODI appearances to his name, he is one of the most experienced players in the tournament.

Odds: 9-1

 

PAKISTAN

The Northern Echo:

Traditionally regarded as one of the most unpredictable sides in world cricket, Pakistan have been in something of a slump since they were forced to adopt a nomadic status, playing all of their matches outside their home country. They retain a decent core of world-class talent, with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq an astute one-day leader, but their highly-regarded spin attack could struggle in unhelpful conditions.

Star Man: Younis Khan – the veteran batsman has been recalled after being dropped for a recent series against Australia, and will be charged with the task of holding his side’s innings’ together. Now 37, he made his ODI debut back in 2000.

Odds: 16-1

 

SOUTH AFRICA

The Northern Echo:

Despite their extensive pedigree, South Africa have never appeared in a World Cup final. This could well be the year that changes. Boasting a squad without any obvious weaknesses, South Africa’s prodigious batting strength was highlighted when they clubbed 439 against the West Indies recently. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are world-class quicks, while Imran Tahir provides an invaluable spin option.

Star Man: AB De Villiers – described as the best cricketer in the world by Adam Gilchrist and David Warner, the wicketkeeper-batsman created history when he smashed a staggering 149 runs off 44 balls against the West Indies last month.

Odds: 3-1

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Northern Echo:

The UAE will make their second appearance on the World Cup stage, and boast a side comprised largely of expatriate Pakistani players who have moved to Dubai. Their skipper, Mohammed Tauqir, is one of only two members of their squad born in the Emirates, but their warm-up results, particularly a succession of defeats against Australian state sides, suggest they will struggle to avoid six defeats.

Star Man: Khurram Khan – the 43-year-old is the oldest player ever to score an ODI century. Born in Pakistan, he moved to Dubai in 1999 to work for Emirates Airlines and also bowls some useful left-arm medium pace.

Odds: 2,500-1

 

WEST INDIES

The Northern Echo:

Of all the major sides competing, it is the West Indies who look likeliest to suffer an upset. Their recent form has been dreadful, their board is in a state of disarray after a tour of India was controversially cut short, and the decision to leave Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard out of the squad did not go down well among the senior players. If Chris Gayle fails to fire, they will struggle.

Star Man: Chris Gayle – for all West Indies struggles, they still boast the most exciting individual talent in the tournament. The 35-year-old left-hander is renowned for his destructive hitting at the top of the order.

Odds: 28-1

 

ZIMBABWE

The Northern Echo:

After only just missing out on a place in the World Cup semi-finals in 1999, Zimbabwean cricket has imploded over the course of the last decade-and-a-half. There have been slight signs of improvement over the last couple of years, with a group of promising youngsters coming through, but sport in Zimbabwe continues to be held back by the inadequacies of the political system.

Star Man: Prosper Utseya – the bowler’s career looked to be over when he was banned from bowling off-spin because the ICC deemed his action to be illegal. However, he has subsequently reinvented himself as a medium-pace seamer.

Odds: 500-1