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But watch out for Windies

The World Cup gets underway today with hosts England up against defending champions Sri Lanka at Lord's in the curtain-raiser.

After 30 matches in the preliminary round, nine in the Super Six round and the two semi-finals, it is expected that the showdown for the title will be between South Africa and Australia with South Africa fancied to win cricket's biggest prize.

But for the West Indies in 1979, none of the previous favourites have won the Cup and as good as they are, as nicely balanced as they are, and as confident as they are, South Africa may be numbered among the also rans when the winners lift the Cup on June 20.

Another reason, apart from the glorious uncertainty of one-day cricket, why South Africa could go the way of previous favourites is because so many of the teams are so closely matched that any of eight could come up trumps.

In what promises to be a tighter contest than any of the previous six, the other teams, apart from Australia, which could rob South Africa are Pakistan, England, the West Indies, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand - and each believe they can.

Pakistan, the winners in 1992, believe they have the guns to shoot down all comers and in batsmen like Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Moin Khan and the explosive Shahid Afridi, in pacers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and the fiery Shoaib Ahktar, and with a slow bowler like legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed, they certainly do.

England, beaten finalists in 1979, 1987 and 1992, are not as potent as Pakistan, but they are playing at home, the early summer weather should suit them, and although they do not boast a batsman or a bowler of class, they possess some tough, experienced players in batsmen Alec Stewart, Graeme Hick, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother, and in pacers Angus Fraser and Darren Gough, and allrounders Adam Hollioake, Mark Ealham, Ian Austin and Robert Croft.

India's chances rest with batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, pacers Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad and legspinner Anil Kumble.

If they enjoy a good summer, India will be dangerous and although they have not been doing well recently, so too Sri Lanka if the likes of Romesh Kaluwitharana, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Attapattu and Aravinda de Silva click, if Sanath Jayasuriya is back to his magical best, if the pitches are dry enough for offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan and if pacer Chaminda Vaas enjoys a good tournament.

While New Zealand, with Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Chris Cairns, Gavin Larsen and Simon Doull, may only be good enough to pick up a scalp or two but not really chase the title, the other team with a real shot at it must be the West Indies.

Champions in 1975 and 1979, finalists in 1983 when they lost to India, and beaten semi-finalists last time out, the West Indies are nowhere near their past strength.

In Brian Lara, however, the West Indies possess probably the most dangerous batsmen in the game, in Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, and especially in their opening spell they possess two of the meanest, deadliest fast bowlers around and if others like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sherwin Campbell, James Adams and Ridley Jacobs, plus young Ricardo Powell, bat well, if Mervyn Dillon, Henderson Bryan, Reon King and Nehemiah Perry can support Ambrose and Walsh, and most importantly, if Phil Simmons and Keith Arthurton finally come good, they could celebrate the return of the tournament to England.

For all six, however, and especially for Pakistan who tend to self-destruct and the West Indies who will be depending on their big three, it is a matter of ifs, after ifs, after ifs - so much so that when you go the rounds and look at the possible winners, it comes back to South Africa or Australia, with South getting the edge.

Both teams are brilliant in the field, but South Africa are just that bit better Australia with a batting line-up which includes Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan, and an attack fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Paul Reiffel, Brendon Julian and Adam Dale boast a well balanced side.

Apart from the brilliant Herschelle Gibbs at the top of the order, South Africa parade batsmen like Darryl Cullinan, Jacques Kallis, Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher, their attack will be led by Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock and supported by the likes of Lance Klusener and Kallis, and with their batting going deep in the order, they once again appear just that bit better.