| This year sees the first ever Twenty 20 cricket | | | | means that many of the countries won't have much |
| World Cup. The latest version of the ancient game of | | | | of a track record. |
| cricket is aimed at attracting a younger audience and | | | | Many believe that Australia will be the team to beat. |
| the World Cup will see 12 national teams competing. | | | | The Aussies are the undoubted kings of Test and |
| Twenty 20 was first introduced in England as a | | | | One Day cricket, leading the rankings in both forms |
| means of getting more people to attend cricket | | | | of the game. |
| matches. The matches were much shorter than | | | | The One Day World Cup, held in the West Indies |
| other forms of the game and were aimed squarely | | | | early in 2007, also saw strong performances from Sri |
| at families and younger generations. | | | | Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa. As hosts here, |
| The format has largely been viewed as a success, | | | | the South Africans will be looking to do well in the |
| attracting large crowds and a greater number of | | | | Twenty 20 version of the World Cup. |
| cricket enthusiasts. | | | | England, the birthplace of the game, will look to do |
| Later this year, South Africa will host the inaugural | | | | well, though may be hampered by having to face |
| Twenty 20 World Cup. The participating nations are | | | | Australia early in the competition. |
| South Africa, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Kenya, | | | | From a financial perspective, the two major Asian |
| New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Scotland, India, | | | | cricketing powers (India and Pakistan) will need to do |
| Australia, Zimbabwe and England. | | | | well if the tournament is to be judged a success. |
| Predicting how each of the teams will perform in the | | | | The world waits to see who will emerge as the |
| competition is not easy - being the first of its kind | | | | world champions. |