West Indies

It has been well documented that the host nation has never won a cricket World Cup. Even stranger is that the hosts have only made one final (England, 1979) and have not made a semi-final since 1987. So the omens are not good, especially given that the Caribbean is not the intimidating place to visit that it once was.

However, this Windies side are probably the strongest they've had for over a decade, and will be looking to turn home conditions into an advantage. Much of the attention will once again be on Brian Lara, seemingly so much happier when captain, although he is under an injury cloud. They have the number one ranked all-rounder in the world in Chris Gayle, and the rest of their batting looks solid and experienced. There does remain the long-term problem, however, of things dropping away once you get through to the lower order.

Jerome Taylor, although expensive, gives them back the fast bowling menace they’ve lacked for the last 10 years. The rest of the bowling is solid if unexciting. Being placed in one of the easier groups is a useful advantage; if they can get on a roll the home-town momentum could produce a wave of form similar to New Zealand in 1992.

Things to watch for: The wave of emotion from the home crowds if they start winning regularly. The wave of bottles from the home crowds if they start losing regularly.

Pakistan
The cricket world’s biggest enigma has just got more enigmatic. Mystery sudden injuries to the recently reinstated Shoiab Ahktar and Mohammed Asif have caused late changes and disruptions to their side, but the earlier withdrawal of Abdul Razzaq has made an even bigger impact; robbing them of late innings explosive overs, and a good fourth seamer option.

Still, they have a reliable batting line-up based around Mohammed Yousuf, Younis Kahn and the great colossus that is Inzamam-ul-Haq, competing in his fifth World Cup. They still have a useful bowling attack; Mohammed Sami is a very decent replacement for the “injured” bowlers, but Pakistan will have to rely on being able to get the ball to swing.

The spin bowling options are interesting. Danish Kaneria is the world’s best leg-spinner now that Shane Warne has retired, but his ODI record is surprisingly poor, and he’s only played in 16 games. Shoaib Malik, on the other hand, is likely to be the preferred option despite the fact that he doesn’t actually turn the ball, and has a very dodgy action.

So how will they do? Sportsfreak knows no more than the next pundit. But one thing is for sure, they will win games they’re meant to lose, and will play utterly appalling cricket on other days. The recent defections will probably bring the team together with some resolve, but the reduction in depth is likely to cost them in this marathon of a competition.

Things to watch for : As always, running between the wickets. Shahid Afridi - the Pakistani holder of the Nathan Astle Memorial Award for not being able to reproduce ODI form in the big tournaments. Can he deliver this time? Yasir Arafat - just for his name.

Zimbabwe
Sportsfreak refuses to recognise their participation in this event other than to wish Ireland all the best in their wooden-spoon encounter.

Things to watch for: The number of political defections, either during or after the tournament.

Ireland
These are strange times in Guiness-land. Rugby Union is being played at Croke Park, Ed Joyce is in the English team and Ireland find themselves at the cricket World Cup, almost beating South Africa in their warm-up game.

They’ve got a useful splattering of Australians and a guy called Botha, so there is some solid first-class experience to fall back on. They are likely to struggle against the hosts and Pakistan (but anything is possible in that one) though they really must fancy their chances against the Zimbabwe Schoolboy XI.

Things to watch for: They’ll have the best parties in the competition. Eoin Morgan - touted as the 'new Ed Joyce', possibly better. It looks as if Irish cricket has its own Sir Don Bradman as far as a benchmark goes.

Visit www.sportsfreak.co.nz and get stuck in to the Kiwis.

 
Do you agree with Sportsfreak's assessment? Tell Sportingo what you think.