As we all know, we are just 4 months away from the biggest event in cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in 2011 which starts from February 19. This is a historic tournament. It is a trophy which every team member, fan wants their country to win.

All teams and coaches are nowadays mainly all for resting their key players. All are anxious to keep their big players fit and running in the time for the big tournament.

As an example, teams like India would be keen on resting players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan for the tournament, and we may see these players skip many of their upcoming tours.

The tourney is just about 4 months from kickoff. It all began a long time back, and forms of many of the teams have changed and most of them are not what they used to be. Some which used to be legends are now practically worthless, and some which used to be worthless are now legends.

Take West Indies for instance. In their past, they had been a lethal team and a major powerhouse of cricket, with the likes of big favourites like Brian Lara, Vivian Richards and Micheal Holding. And look at them now.
In the same way, India, who were not that well known in the past, have constantly increased their level of playing cricket and just look at the dominant position they hold in cricket now.

Let's see the form of some of the top teams contesting for the Cup and the chances they carry. They have been in very good shape and are great bets for winning. Here are these top teams, in ascending order, along with the odds of their winning the championship.


The Cricket World Cup 2011 logo - The Cup That Counts

THE CONTENDERS - ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011

7. SRI LANKA - 200/1 (200.00)



They weren't that good in the earlier times, but this has changed with the introduction of some legendary players, notably Muttiah Muralidharan and Chaminda Vaas. However, recent retirement of both these players have lowered their level a bit. They still hold the third ranking in tests and have good batsmen in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. And it always helps when there is a Tillekaratne Dilshan who can hit a boundary on almost any ball.

VERDICT: AN IMPROVING SIDE WHO NEVER IGNORES YOUNG TALENT. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE THE UNDERDOGS, THEY CAN BE A PAIN IN THE NECK FOR SOME OF THE BETTER TEAMS.

6. ENGLAND - 95/1 (95.00)



They have only won a world-level tournament once, and that was this year's T20 World Cup. Their bowling lineup has talent in Graeme Swann as one of the most successful spinners this year and Jamie Anderson, one of the extremely rare bowlers nowadays who have the ability to shape the ball both ways. Their batting too packs a punch with Trott being in exceptional form nowadays, and a player who could well turn it around for his team.

VERDICT: SOME OF THE BATTERS HAVEN'T BEEN IN GOOD FORM RECENTLY. THEY STILL POSE NO LITTLE THREAT TO THE OPPOSITION.

5. PAKISTAN - 200/4 (50.00)



If they were now what they had been in the past, they would certainly have been in the top three. In the earlier days of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, they won matches which people thought they would lose. And now ... they lose matches which people think they would win. There is a cloud of controversy over the team, and some of their players are under the gun for allegations of spot-fixing. And as Shahid Afridi recently resigned from captaincy, their future isn't looking good ...

VERDICT: MANY OF THEIR MAIN PLAYERS HAVE ALLEGATIONS OF MATCH FIXING, BUT THEY DO HAVE YOUNG TALENT LIKE MOHAMMED AAMER AND UMAR AKMAL ALWAYS LOOKING TO BOOST THE MORALE OF THE TEAM.

4. NEW ZEALAND - 15/1 (15.00)



Although they may have lost Shane Bond, they have great skills in their bowling lineup, with formidable pacers such as Kyle Mills, great spin bowlers like Daniel Vettori and some real misers like Scott Styris. In their batting, they have experienced batsmen who can score lots of runs up the order, such as Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum, as well as batsmen who can really bash the ball around, and get huge sixes and quick runs when needed, like Ross Taylor.

VERDICT: A GOOD ALL-ROUND TEAM THAT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THEY PERFORM.

3. SOUTH AFRICA - 9/1 (9.00)



There used to be a time when South Africans used to be very dominant, even though they only played well in their subcontinent, but they played well. But with quick retirement of players like Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes and Shaun Pollock, they have found it difficult to carry on with the same vim, although they have world-class players in Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn. They hold the number two spots in both the forms of the game, Test cricket and ODI's.

VERDICT: A SIDE THAT HASN'T EVER WON A WORLD CUP. THEY ARE A HIGH-RANKED AND WELL-DISCIPLINED SIDE, BUT I DON'T FANCY THEIR CHANCES RIGHT NOW.

2. INDIA - 10/2 (5.00)



Uptil now it's been all fun and games, but it hots up now. India, a team that wasn't known very much in the extreme past, have consistently improved and they have produced greats and role models, with a class of their own, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and our modern-day hero Sachin being good examples. They are arguably the best team at present.

They have a deadly batting line-up, which is formidable to bowl to. They have one of the best wicketkeeper and captains, both being special on their own. The bowling consists of experience in players like Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan.

VERDICT: INDIA, YOU ARE A GREAT TEAM. IMPROVE YOUR AT-THE-DEATH BOWLING AND FIELDING A BIT, AND YOU'LL TAKE AWAY THE CUP.

1. AUSTRALIA - 10/3 (3.33)



The Australian side has been the most dominant in the past, and have been the most successful team in World Cups, winning three of the total eight that have been played, and ending up runners-up another three times. In the 1970's, they were known as 'The Invincibles' and that expresses just what they did out on the field.

But alas, gone are those days when Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden used to open the batting for Australia, and you had an Adam Gilchrist down the order who could thrash the bowlers out of the park. Gone are those days when whenever Ponting wanted a wicket, all he had to do was to throw a ball to Shane Warne or Glenn McGrath. But such players are very difficult to replace once they retire, and Warnes and McGraths come once in a lifetime.

They also are a solid side with a terrific pace bowling line-up, energetic fielders and young talent in their batting. You may see Mike Hussey or Ricky Ponting anchoring the batting while Shane Watson gives the bowlers a hard time.

VERDICT: A STRONG TEAM BUT NOT IN THE BEST OF FORM RIGHT NOW. THE BEST ALL-ROUND SIDE AT PRESENT.

Talk all about the favourites for the World Cup. It's about to start, and we'll soon find out the winner.