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GROUP B

AUSTRALIA

Their recent record has earned them joint favoritism with South Africa but they have had a long, hard build-up to the Cup. Their form in the seven-match series in the West Indies was patchy, perhaps affected by the absence of two of their main bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Adam Dale.

Their emphasis on all-rounders and specialists in the limited-overs game means they field almost two completely different teams for the two forms of the game. It has worked and only South Africa can match their recent consistency.

World Cup record: First round elimination 1979, 1983, 1992; Final 1975 (lost to West Indies) and 1996 (lost to South Africa); Champions 1987 (defeated England). Won 22, lost 16.

Key player: Shane Warne's recovery from shoulder surgery was so slow and his confidence so low that he lost his Test place in the series in the West Indies. His form and self-belief returned in the ODIs that followed. His all-round cricket and his personality make him essential to his team's effort.

BANGLADESH

Their manager and their coach, the great West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge, have given them no hope of advancing past the first round in their first World Cup.

It is a realistic assessment for they lost all four matches in a three-way tournament with Kenya and Zimbabwe at home in Dhaka in March. But they did win the earlier One-day series against West Indies 'A'.

They will not lack for enthusiasm or support from their thousands of countrymen resident in England but they are simply too short of experience to anticipate a Kenya-like upset over one of the major teams.

Fellow minnows Scotland present their best chance for a win.

Key player: Aminul Islam, fondly known as ``Bulbul'' at home, is captain, the most experienced player and the best batsman. He can inspire his players with a productive tournament. He has played plenty of league cricket in England.

NEW ZEALAND

As always, New Zealand will prove an efficient, well balanced team difficult to beat in limited-overs cricket. England and New Zealand share the same spring climate and cricket conditions so they should feel at home.

They proved their worth by running the powerful South Africans close in their lead-up to the World Cup and they will give even the strongest of opponents a real fight.

World Cup record: First round elimination 1983, 1987; Quarter-final 1996 (lost to Australia); Semi-finals 1975 (lost to West Indies), 1979 (lost to England), 1992 (lost to Pakistan). Won 19, lost 16.

Key player: Chris Cairns has a wonderful opportunity to show his true colours after a career of under-achievement and injury. An allrounder with obvious potential, he could provide the dynamic lead his team needs.

PAKISTAN

No team is better balanced, more talented, less predictable and more perplexing than Pakistan.

They are certainly as strong on paper now as they were when they won the Cup in 1992 and Wasim Akram is seemingly having the same settling effect as captain as Imran Khan. They have built up a significant store of confidence with successes in tournaments in India, involving India and Sri Lanka, and Sharjah, over England and India. The late resignation of coach Javed Miandad and the continuing match-fixing scandal are diversions that could sidetrack them.

World Cup record: First round elimination 1975; Quarter-final 1996 (lost to India); Semi-finals 1979 (lost to the West Indies), 1983 (lost to West Indies) 1987 (lost to Australia); Champions 1992. Won 21, lost 15, no result 1.

Key player: Wasim Akram, as inspirational captain, high-class left-arm fast bowler and dangerous low-order hitter, fills the role Imran did with such effect. He will have to rise about the clouds hanging over his head while the judicial inquiry into his role in the match-fixing scandal is still be published.

SCOTLAND

Their cricketers are certain to suffer the same fate as their footballers in the World Cup, elimination after the first round in what is their first attempt.

They qualified on the strength of their third-place finish in the last ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. Comprised mainly amateurs, they would do well to be competitive against their Test opposition and their big match is against fellow ICC associate, Bangladesh, at home at the Grange club in Edinburgh.

Key player: Mike Smith is a dashing right-handed batsman with plenty of experience. His approach to batting is similar to that of his left-handed father, Chris, a St.Kitts-born doctor who played for Barbados Colts against EW Swanton's XI in 1956 while at the Lodge School in Barbados.

WEST INDIES

Their recent Lara-led resurgence after the disasters in South Africa has alerted bookmakers to the possibility that they have it in them to go all the way.

They have to be consistent, not one of their strengths of late, and get the best from their best players. The late withdrawal of Carl Hooper has re

moved a significant all-rounder but several others have the experience of county cricket to bank on. A vastly improved side, not least in fielding, the West Indies thrive on success and a couple of key first round victories could give them the confidence to go all the way.

World Cup record: First round elimination 1987, 1992; Semi-final 1996 (lost to Australia); Final 1983 (lost to India); Champions 1975, 1979. Won 25, lost 13, no result 1.

Key player: As always, the team depends on Brian Lara for leadership in batting as much as in captaincy. As in the Tests against Australia, and in the quarterfinal against South Africa last time, he can be a match-winner on his own.

GROUP A

ENGLAND

Euphoria following success in the Champions' Trophy in Sharjah in December, 1997, quickly evaporated.

They haven't won anything since in the shortened form of the game in tournaments in the West Indies, in England, in Bangladesh, in Australia and in Sharjah.

It's not an encouraging prelude to their first World Cup at home since 1983 but the early start to the tournament, when conditions are likely to favour the experience of their several medium-paced seamers, enhances their chances of winning their first Cup.

World Cup record: Quarter-final 1996 (lost to Sri Lanka), Semi-finals 1975 (lost to Australia) and 1983 (lost to India), Final 1979 (lost to West Indies), 1987 (lost to Australia) and 1992 (lost to Pakistan). Won 25, lost 14, no result 1.

Key player: Darren Gough. An ebullient character and as effective as strike bowler as there is around with his pace and swerve, he is the one real star in the squad.

INDIA

They won the Cup the last time it was contested in England in 1983 but India's most recent experience of the country in early season, on their 1996 tour, does not prompt optimism for a repeat.

They will have to record overseas if they are to even get past England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and move into the second round.

World Cup record: First round elimination 1975, 1979, 1992; Semi-finals 1987 (lost to England) and 1996 (lost to Sri Lanka). Champions 1983 (beat West Indies). Won 18, lost 17, no result 1.

Key player: Sachin Tendulkar is to India what Brian Lara is to the West Indies, a match-winner on his own, especially as he also bowls deceptively effective, if nondescript, all sorts.