| The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup is carded for the | | | | replacements are very experienced and by 2011, |
| Asian subcontinent. The subcontinent is known to | | | | Australia will still have a very good squad. |
| offer much different conditions from England, Africa | | | | South Africa |
| and Oceania. The hosting of the 2011 World Cup may | | | | The great 'chokers' of cricket, South Africa have a |
| be in doubt, after the 2009 attacks against the | | | | reputation for crumbling under pressure. They tend to |
| touring Sri Lankan team in Pakistan. However, the | | | | do well against mid-table teams, but flounder against |
| hosting of the tournament remains a significant factor | | | | top teams, particularly in tough situations. After their |
| in predicting the eventual winner of the 2011 | | | | dismal showing at home in 2003 and average |
| tournament. | | | | performance in the 2007 edition, South Africa will be |
| Although 12 teams will be participating in that event, | | | | rank outsiders. |
| only 8 should be considered as having a realistic | | | | Sri Lanka |
| chance at capturing the title. Australia, England, New | | | | Sri Lanka made it to the final in the 2007 ICC Cricket |
| Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, India | | | | World Cup. They have the talent and have won this |
| and Sri Lanka all have a realistic chance of winning. | | | | event staged on the subcontinent in 1996. This would |
| England, West Indies, Pakistan, and New Zealand will | | | | make them one of the favourites to capture the |
| be ranked outsiders to win for different reasons. | | | | 2011 edition of the event as well. Sri Lanka has |
| England never seems to find the right mix and have | | | | proven to be one of the more consistent ODI teams |
| never been on top of the one-day game. The West | | | | in the last decade as well. |
| Indies have a young side that is somewhat | | | | India |
| inconsistent. They may have won the Champions | | | | India is usually a favourite to win an ODI tournament. |
| trophy in 2004, but lack the experience, class and | | | | They won the inaugural Twenty20 Championship |
| squad-depth to do much more. | | | | staged in South Africa. Apart from that, they remain |
| Pakistan will find it hard to play much cricket as a | | | | a force in ODIs. However, it only takes a couple |
| result of the recent terror attacks. Even from a | | | | moments of madness to lose out in the World Cup. |
| cricketing aspect, Pakistan is a consistent team. New | | | | India crashed out of the 2007 tournament in the |
| Zealand is an honest performer that could easily | | | | West Indies- losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The |
| make it to the semi-final stage. However, they lack | | | | mettle of the Indian team is often questioned. |
| the class to go beyond. This leaves Australia, Sri | | | | As much as I hate to admit it, Australia is the clear |
| Lanka | | | | favourite to win the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at |
| Australia | | | | this juncture. They have the pedigree (four-time |
| Australia has a strong squad with significant depth | | | | winners), the talent and the mettle to sustain |
| and has won the last three World Cups. They are | | | | performance over an entire tournament. They can |
| clear favourites to capture the 2011 tournament- | | | | rebound from defeats (as they did in the 1999 |
| despite it being held on the Asian subcontinent. | | | | tournament) and go on to win. For a safe bet, |
| Australia has suffered a few setbacks in terms of | | | | Australia is it. |
| retirement of senior players in 2007. However, their | | | | |