January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
It's anyone's game to win the ICC Champions Trophy
The competition - basically the World Cup without the smaller nations - sees the top eight sides on the planet battle it out for glory.
With title holders West Indies and Sri Lanka unsurprisingly making it through a limp four-team qualifier, whose only purpose seems to have been to politely get rid of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the stage is set for a thrilling tournament.
It's rare in world sport to have a tournament featuring the best players in the world, where each of the teams has a genuine chance of winning. But that is what we have here.
In a special preview today, we look at each of the teams vying for honours.
Australia
Though their period of dominance may be churning to a gradual end, there's no doubt that Australia are still the best team in world cricket.
The destructive batting talents of skipper Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchirst combined with the return to form and fitness of Glenn McGrath - known as the metronome for his relentless accuracy - makes them worthy favourites.
They will surely progress from this group. How far they go after that depends on how they handle the pitches and on the contribution of emerging players like Stuart Clark and promising all-rounder Shane Watson.
Captain: Ricky Ponting
Star Man: Glenn McGrath
One to watch: Shane Watson
Sea Horses odds: 2/1
BDA Sun verdict: Should make the final, at least.
England
The return of Andrew Flintoff will restore confidence to a beleaguered England side following an embarrassing run of defeats in the one-day game. The upward curve of England's performances in the Test arena have not been matched at this level, and they will need wholesale improvement to stand a chance here.
On their day they are capable of beating anyone, which is why the bookmakers' decision to make them the rank outsider for this tournament is somewhat puzzling.
But, I guess seven straight defeats this summer didn't help.
Despite that run of results off-spinning all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple is looking a decent prospect at this level and the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood are proven one-day performers.
Captain: Andrew Flintoff
Star Man: Andrew Flintoff
One to watch: Jamie Dalrymple
Sea Horses odds: 11/1
BDA Sun verdict: Out in the group stages.
India
In the midst of a shocking run of one-day form, India should be a different prospect on home turf.
They were beaten by Australia and the West Indies in the DFL Cup, but do not underestimate the influence of the fanatical Indian crowds.
The pitches should also be primed for Harbhajahn Singh to work his magic, though more could depend on the ability of talented young seamers RP Singh and Munaf Patel to provide more bite and variation in the attack.
An experienced core of quality batsmen in Rahul Dravid, Virender Schewag and Sachin Tendulkar as well as one of the world's most promising wicketkeeper batsmen in MS Dhoni gives them, on paper, one of the most solid line-ups in the competition.
Captain: Rahul Dravid
Star Man: Sachin Tendulkar
One to watch: MS Dhoni
Sea Horses odds: 4/1
BDA Sun verdict: Semi-finals but no further.
West Indies
Having breezed through the qualifying competition, West Indies will have a chance to defend the trophy they won so surprisingly last time around.
That victory - hot on the heels of a record breaking losing streak in Test cricket - exemplified that form in the longer format counts for nothing in the one-day arena.
They have none of the destructive power of old, but in Chris Gayle and Brian Lara they have players who can win matches single handedly.
And as Irving Romaine, Janeiro Tucker and the rest of the Bermuda bats will tell you, facing Jerome Taylor is no picnic either.
Captain: Brian Lara
Star player: Brian Lara
One to watch: Jerome Taylor
Sea Horses odds: 10/1
BDA Sun verdict: Home before the semis.
South Africa
Ever since Hansie Cronje tearfully confessed to accepting money from illegal bookmakers, South Africa has been dogged by the fall-out.Key-man Herschelle Gibbs, who was banned from cricket for six months after admitting taking money from Cronje to under-perform in an ODI with India, has spent the best part of his country's preparations helping the Indian police with their inquiries into the scandal.
This is hardly the best way to get ready for a major international tournament.
The Gibbs sideshow aside, South Africa come into this tournament, with one of the most talented squads in the world. A perfect balance of youth and experience, they have all the ingredients of potential champions.
Captain: Graeme Smith
Star player: Herschelle Gibbs
One to watch: Justin Kemp
Sea Horses odds: 9/1
BDA Sun verdict: Finalists/ potential winners
Pakistan
The absence of talismanic captain Inzamam-ul-Haq leaves Pakistan struggling in the batting department.
Inzy is facing a four-match suspension over his team's refusal to finish a Test match against England because of ball-tampering allegations levelled against them. The chubby middle-order bat may not be the most athletic fielder in the one-day game but he is crucial to Pakistan's batting line up. Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf will do the bulk of the work but there is very little in the way of support for those two. Captain: Younis Khan
Star Player: Shoaib Akhtar
One to watch: Umar Gul
Sea Horses odds: 5/1
BDA sun verdict: Semi-finals
New Zealand
If anyone deserves to be outsiders in this competition then it's the Kiwis.
They don't have the depth in their squad or the world-class individual talents that are on display elsewhere.
Stalwarts like Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Lou Vincent are solid but this team seriously lacks flair. The good news for the Kiwis is that they're talented pace bowler Shane Bond is free of injury and apparently raring to go. But Bond's career has been dogged by injury and many will wait to see him in a New Zealand shirt before fully swallowing the reports.
Captain: Stephen Fleming
Star Player: Nathan Astle
One to watch: Shane Bond
Sea Horses odds: 11/1
BDA sun verdict: Out in round one
Sri Lanka
It was something of a baffling insult that Sri Lanka were forced to qualify for this tournament. The former champions trounced England 5-0 on their home turf this summer and are a slick one day outfit. Their top order is developing into one of the best units in the world with opener Upul Tharanga adding his explosive talents to the experience and class of Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.
Captain: Mahela Jayawardene.
Star Player: Muttiah Muralitharan
One to watch: Upul Tharanga
Sea Horses odds: 6/1
BDA sun verdict: If they make it through the group, they could go all the way.[[In-content Ad]]
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