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Defending champions Sri Lanka, despite their recent unimpressive run losing 15 of their last 19 one day internationals, remained as the 8-1 favourites to retain the World Cup title, a feat only the West Indies have achieved in its 24-year-old history. According to the latest estimates based on quoted prices from five online bookmaker Internet sites in England and Australia, South Africa are the hot favourites to win the title.

On the current approximate odds list to win the World Cup this year, South Africa have been rated 5-2 while Australia stands the next best chance of 11-4. Bookmakers have rated England at 11-2 in the third place while Asians, India 6-1, Pakistan 13-2, Sri Lanka 8-1 are next in line to win the 12-nation title. Among the leser fancied teams, West Indies are rated 9-1, New Zealand 15-1, Zimbabwe 50-1, Kenya 600-1, Bangladesh 800-1 and Scotland at 1000-1.

Northamptonshire will be the host county for Sri Lanka in an extensive warm-up schedule drawn up by the England Cricket Board. Each of the 12 countries taking part, including the hosts England, have been assigned a host county in their build-up for the mega event. England will be hosted by Kent, for which Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva made significant contributions a couple of seasons ago.

The last World Cup's losing finalists Australia will be hosted by Glamorgan while former champions India will have Leicestershire as their hosts. The other eight counties who will have the honour of hosting world cup participating teams are Hampshire (New Zealand), Derbyshire (Pakistan), Sussex (South Africa), Gloucestershire (West Indies), Worcestershire (Zimbabwe), Essex (Bangladesh), Durham (Scotland) and Taunton (Kenya). The participating teams are expected to arrive in England from later next month. They will be based in their respective host countries and plan their warm-up schedules. The ECB has already announced a series of warm-up matches against some of the leading counties prior to the World Cup 'curtain raiser' between Sri Lanka and England at Lord's on May 14.

The England Cricket Board (ECB), the hosts of the forthcoming World Cup tournament, has organised a total of 32 warm-up matches for the 12 teams which will compete in the mega event. These one day side games against some of the leading county teams will be played from May 7 to 12 before the World Cup tournament gets underway on May 14 with a match between England and the defending champions Sri Lanka at Lord's. This will incidentally be Sri Lanka's 300th match in one day internationals since making its debut at the inaugural 1975 World Cup tournament in England as then ICC Trophy Champions.

Sri Lanka will play three official practice matches on Mary 7,9 and 11 against Northamptonshire (in Northampton), Nottinghamshire (in Trent Bridge) and Leicestershire (in Leciester) respectively. However, Sri Lanka are expected to play a few more additional warm-up games apart from these official practice games. Sri Lanka team is due to arrive in England by the end of this month in a bid to adjust to English conditions by the time they launch their title defence.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is placed sixth in the latest World best bowlers list - the Pricewatershouse-Coopers Test rankings released in London. South Africa star paceman Allan Donald continues to head the world rankings for the bowlers while Australian fast bowler Glen McGrath has advanced to the second spot.

McGrath's recent success on the Caribbean tour, which included a ten-wicket haul in the First Test against the West Indies, has moved him into second place in the latest Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Test rankings Glenn McGrath's ten-wicket haul in the First Test against the West Indies has moved him into second place, followed by Curtly Ambrose, Shaun Pollock and Simon Doull. McGrath (855 points) is still behind Allan Donald (888) and third placed Curtly Ambrose (846). Sri Lanka vice captain Aravinda de Silva is placed 10th in the Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Test world rankings for batsmen.