Cricket World Cup Preview - Group B

Group B

Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Netherlands, South Africa, West Indies

This is the far more open of the two groups, with only two minnows. Co-hosts India are overwhelming favourites to top the group and kick on to their first World Cup triumph since 1983. Perennial chokers South Africa also have a strong claim this time around after looking the best team in 1996 and 1999 only to stuff things up when it counted. There's still a lot of love for England, especially after they won the T20 title. Bangladesh could surprise on home turf, while the West Indies boast some of the most dynamic cricketers going around. 

Bangladesh 

Why they can win it: Home conditions. Handy cricketers. Form in this tournament (they knocked India out of the Super Eights in 2007).

Why they can't: Making the knock-out phase will be an achievement. Winning three sudden-death games in a row against quality opposition would be a miracle.

Predicted finish: Quarter-finals.

England

Why they can win it: Kevin Pietersen. Graeme Swann. Jimmy Anderson.

Why they can't: No Eion Morgan. Sub-par middle order.

Predicted finish: Quarter-finals.

India

Why they can win: Sehwag. Tendulkar. Singh. Sreesanth. Donhi.

Why they can't: The sheer expectation. India is undoubtedly the centre of the cricket universe and a billion countrymen expecting glory can't be easy to cope with ... especially in such a bloated tournament.

Predicted finish: Runners-up

Ireland

Why they can win it: Ummm ... luck of the Irish?

Why they can't: Have Ireland ever won a world championship in ANY team sport that doesn't end in -ling?

Predicted finish: Sixth in group.

Netherlands

Why they can win it: The best nation to never win the World Cup. It's time. Oh, wait ... that's in the other 11-a-side game, football.

Why they can't win it: Used up their quadrennial upset quota when they beat the Poms in a T20 a little while back.

South Africa

Why they can win it: Best bowling attack going around. Deep, capable batting line up. Balanced. Good fielders.

Why they can't: History suggests the Saffers will find a way to balls it all up, in bizarre, illegal or unheard-of circumstances. Or they'll just choke against Australia again.

Predicted finish: Semi-finals.

West Indies

Why they can win it: Chris Gayle is THE most dangerous player at the tournament. Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul and Keiron Pollard are explosive.

Why they can't win it: Their bowling looks like it might struggle to restrict anyone to sub-275 totals. That will place too much pressure on Gayle - if he fails, they lose.

Predicted finish: Fifth in group.