Australia celebrate that amazing semi win (Allsport).

By Andy Hampson, PA Sport

No one who saw them will ever forget the scenes of utter chaos which effectively settled the last World Cup.

Hansie Cronje cut a forlorn figure as 11 Australians ran around Edgbaston riotously celebrating one of the most dramatic wins in the history of one-day cricket in their semi-final against South Africa.

That match had it all, twists and turns, ups and downs and a result that was in the balance right until the moment when Allan Donald was farcically run out with the scores level.

Australia went on to beat Pakistan convincingly in the final, but that balmy evening in Birmingham was the greatest example of the glorious unpredictability which has made the World Cup so enduring.

International limited-overs cricket is notoriously fickle, with all the top sides capable of beating each other on their day.

Over a series of games the better team should prevail, but in the one-off situations presented by the World Cup that does not always happen and the tournament is the better for it.

Nine times out of 10 the West Indies would have beaten India in the 1983 final, few gave Australia a prayer in their 1987 semi-final against Pakistan and who foresaw Kenya beating West Indies in 1996?

It all means any one of eight sides, if they play their cards right and get enough luck on their side, can win the tournament.

Australia will obviously start as the favourites, but even they are not immune to dropping the odd match as indeed they showed by failing to reach the final of their own 2002 VB Series.

India will travel to South Africa with their best chance of victory for some time as long as they agree to take a full-strength squad. But it should not be forgotten they have lost to Kenya since England 1999. Such blips can hit doubly hard in the World Cup.

Certainly on paper, however, there is no looking beyond the holders.

If anything they are a stronger proposition than last time, even if they decide against recalling former captain Steve Waugh.

In Michael Bevan they have one-day cricket's best batsman, in Adam Gilchrist its most consistently destructive, in Ricky Ponting the best fielder and in Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne two world-class bowlers. Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee are not far behind.

In addition they have a whole clutch of players including Damien Martyn, Jimmy Maher, Andrew Symonds, Darren Lehmann and Andy Bichel bubbling under after regular appearances in a side operating a squad rotation policy.

They are certainly a cut above the rest of the competition, but India, Pakistan and neighbours New Zealand are certainly capable of giving them a run for their money.

India look to have plenty of options and showed that in their run to the rain-washed final of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Their batting is quite possibly the strongest in world cricket with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly backed up by Virender Sehwag and youth prospects Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh.

With Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble they have two great spinners, and seamers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan have both impressed.

Under the coaching of John Wright and surprisingly fruitful leadership of Ganguly, India look to have their best chance since co-hosting the event in 1987.

Pakistan too are bulging at the seams with talent, and many of the side will be out to make up for their abject failure at Lord's last time out.

Yet as ever behind-the-scenes squabbles could undermine the Pakistani bid, and the refusal of sides to play them on their home turf has obviously had an unsettling effect on the team.

Such problems are unlikely to affect New Zealand, who under Stephen Fleming's astute captaincy have proved a resilient bunch.

With all their big guns firing, particularly injury-prone all-rounder Chris Cairns, the Kiwis could well have enough to go all the way.

The bad news for England is that they must separate Australia, India and Pakistan to reach the Super Six stage.

They are certainly capable of doing so, after making great strides in recent years, but Nasser Hussain's men will need to be on top of their game.

Much will be expected of Marcus Trescothick, Nick Knight, Michael Vaughan and whoever is saddled with the burden of leading the attack. Between them they cannot afford too many bad games.

Zimbabwe, Holland and Namibia will make up England's group. Not much is expected of any of them - although Namibia, who have come on apace since entering a team into a South African domestic competition, may be worth watching.

New Zealand look the pick of the sides in the other group, with South Africa's best chance of glory looking to have gone at Edgbaston.

The likes of Rhodes, Klusener and Donald are all well past their best, but no one of their class has yet emerged to take their place.

Shaun Pollock has a lot to do to suggest his current charges are up to the standards of four years ago, although home advantage should help.

Sri Lanka will always be dangerous with such a strong batting line-up. Bowling will be their weakness. But they should have enough to see off the still inconsistent - although improving - West Indies.

Bangladesh, Kenya and Canada are there for the experience.