The build-up is over and the eleventh ICC Cricket World Cup is with us for the next six weeks.
Fourteen teams, split into two pools of seven will initially contest a round-robin format. The top four in each pool will then progress to the quarter final stage from where it becomes straight knock-out.
Who to back, who to be wary of, who to write off? All questions we’ll try to answer in this 2-part preview, beginning with Pool A.
AUSTRALIA
Joint-hosts but clear favourites. Australia look to have the right players in form at the right time and like the German football team, they always seem to excel whenever a tournament comes around.
David Warner and Aaron Finch will give them some fast starts and they have enough quality in their middle order to ensure regular scores of over 300.
Mitchell’s Johnson and Starc present the most potent new ball attack in the tournament.
Strengths – all-round brilliance
Weaknesses – may be vulnerable if they have to play a knockout match in New Zealand
Player to watch – David Warner. He’s had his difficulties but this is his time and he’s ready.
Prediction – Winners
NEW ZEALAND
Fellow joint-hosts and dark horses. Yet to win a world tournament but New Zealand will provide dangerous opposition for anyone.
Brendon McCallum leads a side that has improved steadily over the past 18 months and look capable in every discipline. Strong at the top of the order, middle order experience, pace and spin bases covered and excellent in the field.
Strengths – Confidence in their own ability
Weaknesses – They don't have a strong record in major tournaments, which could count against them.
Player to watch – Many to choose from but if McCullum is set at the crease, the Kiwis win.
Prediction – Semi finalists
ENGLAND
Finalists the last time the ICC World Cup was played down under, England aren’t fancied to repeat their 1992 exploits. A recent change of captaincy, with Eoin Morgan replacing Alastair Cook, has given the side a better balance.
The squad looks strong and may shock the doom-mongers who have already written them off.
Strengths – Genuine quality and bags of one-day experience.
Weaknesses – Weight of expectation, and the core of exciting players are yet to fully find their feet.
Player to watch – Ian Bell. Has a decent record in Australia and looks the part now he’s back at the top of the order. Must score runs, because Outlaw Alex Hales is waiting in the wings, and has a habit of excelling on the world stage.
Prediction: We'll take a step back from this one.
SRI LANKA
Few teams churn out star quality as smoothly as the Sri Lankans. Winners in 1996 and defeated finalists in each of the last two World Cups, they are ready for another tilt at the title.
This will be the lust hurrah for many of their thirty-somethings and Jayawardena, Sangakkara, Dilshan, Malinga and co are more than capable of riding off into the sunset with winners medals.
Add the names of Herath, Senanayake and captain Angelo Matthews and you are looking at serious contenders. Traditionally don’t go as well outside the sub-continent but no-one will take them lightly.
Strengths – Know their game. Runs on the board and defend. Simple.
Weaknesses – New Zealand’s South Island doesn’t quite have the humidity of Colombo.
Player to watch – Tillakaratne Dilshan – Over 9,400 runs in ODIs, most of them scored at a very healthy lick. Almost guaranteed to score a couple of hundreds in this tournament.
Prediction – Losing finalists
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh have had their moments since being admitted into cricket’s upper echelons but it would be a major shock if they could negotiate their way through the group and reach the knock-out stages.
Competitive at home but unlikely to upstage the big guns in the group. Beaten by Ireland in a warm up this week, Scotland and Afghanistan may sense blood when they face them.
Strengths – Unpredictability. Always likely to produce someone with one innings of brilliance or one devastating spell.
Weaknesses – There's a lack of genuine quality throughout the squad, which might be their undoing.
Player to watch – Tamim Iqbal hasn’t been at his best since exploding on the scene a number of years ago. Time to remind everyone of his destructiveness in the opening powerplay.
Prediction – Group stages
AFGHANISTAN
Unknown to many and unfancied to shine, Afghanistan’s best hope is that they are taken lightly and catch someone off-guard. Their side is vastly experienced in terms of ODI appearances but not at the very highest level.
Appearing at the ICC World Cup should be a result in itself for the Afghans – let’s hope they see it that way.
Strengths – New ball attack may be able to make inroads. After that it will probably be very hard for them.
Weaknesses – They're certainly unproven at this level.
Player to watch – Hamid Hassan. A genuinely exciting fast bowler who played for the MCC against Notts in Abu Dhabi in 2011. Took a hat-trick against the Outlaws in the T20 match on the same trip.
Prediction – It doesn't look like it'll be a pleasant ride for Afghanistan in this tournament.
SCOTLAND
Scotland have impressed in their warm-up matches leading into the tournament. A win over Ireland and a narrow 3-run defeat to the West Indies have shown that they can compete.
Unlikely to get out of the first phase but this will be a good chance for some of their players to put themselves in the shop window and show what they can do.
Strengths – Tight unit who will play for each other and be proud to pull for the shirt. A good lead-in should give them confidence.
Weaknesses – They may be reliant upon the same 5 or 6 players to make the impact in each game.
Player to watch – Kyle Coetzer of Northants is a vastly-experienced opener and should give them the platform to put runs on the board.
Prediction – Won’t qualify for the quarter finals but they will win (at least once).
Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to take in what promises to be an absorbing contest and secure your seat now.