INDIA
Strength
A powerful batting line-up, stacked with match-winners, and plenty of variation in bowling. Lot of part-time bowlers means skipper Dhoni will have plenty of choices to fall back on if one of the frontline bowlers has a bad day in office. Overall, the team has good balance.
Weakness
There is no one who can bowl genuinely quick, so Indian bowlers will have to mainly rely on clever variation to prevent rival batsmen from hitting through the line. Ground fielding is an area of concern as other teams would be a step ahead in this department. No second wicketkeeper means the team will be keeping fingers crossed on Dhoni's fitness.
Opportunity
It's India's last big chance to win the Cup before the rebuilding process starts. I expect the team to play around Sachin Tendulkar and make it a memorable event for the maestro. There dressing-room atmosphere is excellent and players are well aware of their roles. Low and slow wickets should suit our batters and bowlers alike. Also there is enough time in-between matches for minor injuries to heal.
Threat
Much will depend on how individual players, and the team as a whole, handle the pressure of expectations of a billion fans. On the field, the main threat would come from Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
AUSTRALIA
Strength
Good and robust batting side a potent pace attack with two genuine quick bowlers in Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. The team has the right mix of youth and experience and looks very balanced on paper. With someone like Michael Johnson or Steven Smith likely to bat at No 8, the Aussies have enough depth in their batting to chase down big totals, or set them up.
Weakness
Lack of a quality spin bowler is sure to hurt them at some stage of the tournament. Jason Krejza is a decent bowler, but, against quality players of spin bowling, he may struggle. Their attack lacks balance. Also after the warm-up game against India, questions have to be asked about their batsmen's ability to handle top-class spinners.
Opportunity
They have a golden opportunity to make it four-in-a-row. Skipper Ricky Ponting, having led Australia to two successive World Cup titles, now has a chance to record a hat-trick. Having lost the Ashes to England and their No 1 ranking in Tests, the Aussies would be more than keen to hold on to their numero uno status in ODIs.
Threat
The threat to Aussies comes mainly from the sub-continental teams like India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan as these teams not only have better spinners, but also players who revel in 'home' conditions.
SOUTH AFRICA
Strength
A great pace bowling unit and a strong batting line-up. They also have three spinners which means skipper Graeme Smith has sought to cover all the bases. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are genuinely quick and are capable to extracting good bounce from deadest of tracks. And the have players like Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis who always look to bat right through the 50 overs, making it easier for the others to bat around them.
Weakness
They have too long a tail. With Du Plessis at No 7 and Johan Botha at No 8 their lower order lacks a finisher. Also, apart from Botha, their other spinners are too inexperienced. They are strong in certain departments but do not look to be a good team.
Opportunity:
The Proteas have always been a very competitive side. They haven't gone beyond the semis in World Cup so it gives Smith's side an added desire to take those final two steps to glory. Smith himself must look to shed his over-attacking style in ODIs and look to bat through the innings.
Threat
The Proteas have always been extremely vulnerable to quality spin bowling and would be wary of teams like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
SRI LANKA
Strength
Top-order batting and a quality attack with lots of variety in both, pace and spin departments. With Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene at the top of the order and the likes of Murali, Mendis, Malinga and Perera forming the core of their bowling attack, Sri Lanka look really strong on paper.
Weakness
An untested middle-order. Should Sri Lanka lose early wickets, it will expose a middle-order comprising Samaraweera, Kapugedera, Chamara Silva and Angelo Mathews.
Opportunity
Touring teams have always found it hard to beat Sri Lanka on their home pitches. As the team from the island nation are scheduled to play all their matches (barring the final) at home, they would look to make it count. They were undone by Gilchrist's brilliance in the 2007 final, but have the arsenal to go all the way.
Threat
The main threat to their campaign comes from teams which have depth and variety like Australia, India or unpredictable sides like Pakistan or the West Indies.
ENGLAND
Strength
Good, in-form team that gels well. In Strauss and Bell they have two classical batsmen, while Swann and Anderson are classical Test bowlers, who can make it count on their day. In Pietersen, Collingwood, Bresnan and Yardy, England have ODI specialists who can turn a match on their own.
Weakness
First and foremost, they have to convince themselves that they can be as good in limited-overs cricket as they are in Tests. Pietersen must look to bat through the innings and not over-attack like Smith. Their other concern is lack of firepower in the lower order which comprises mainly of bits and pieces players.
Opportunity
Having won the World T20 championship last year, England have an excellent chance to register a 'double' in limited overs cricket. It will also enhance their reputation as a truly great all-round side.
Threat
Historically, English batsmen have struggled on the low and slow pitches of the sub-continent, particularly against quality spin bowling, and this time it will be no different.
PAKISTAN
Strength
A slew of big-hitters and a potent pace attack make Pakistan a dangerous side, which is known to play fearless cricket. They bat deep with someone like Razzaq at No 8. In Gul and Akhtar they have two fast bowlers who can devastate any line-up and Ajmal and Rehman they have two crafty spinners who can be pretty effective on sub-continental wickets.
Weakness
Pakistan teams over the years have a tendency to blow hot and cold. Consistency is the name of the game and Afridi's side must look to fire in every game. They are sure to miss the banned Asif and Aamer in bowling and Butt in batting.
Threat
They have the tendency to self-destruct, so the threat perception for Pakistan comes from within this extremely talented bunch of individuals.
Opportunity
It's a great chance for Pakistan to show the world what they are capable of. If they make the knock-out stage they will be a dangerous side. The tag of dark horses suits them.
NEW ZEALAND
After being blown away by Bangladesh and India in recent times, the Black Caps are under pressure. They remain a good fielding side and have plenty of utility cricketers, but lack both depth and finesse to make a big impact on the big stage. Unless they show a bull-headed approach, they could just get blown away. Their first task would be to get into the quarterfinals from Group A which in itself is a tall task.
WEST INDIES
They have proven match-winners like Gayle and Pollard who are capable of turning any match on its head with their power-hitting, but ODIs call for mixing caution with aggression. Batting in top gear for 10-15 overs may not be enough for Caribbean batsmen, who must take a leaf out of Sachin or Gambhir's book and try and build their innings. They have a decent bowling unit, but it lacks the cutting edge.
BANGLADESH
The surprise packet of 2007 World Cup have a young side which has been performing pretty consistently in recent times. Playing at home, in familiar conditions will certainly suit them, but their real test will come against the big teams. A quarterfinal berth is not beyond the realms of possibility for the Bangla Tigers, who will certainly miss the all-round skills of Mashrafe Mortaza. I don't see India slipping up again against Bangladesh, but it would be foolhardy for any team to underestimate Shakib's team in the tournament.
ZIMBABWE, KENYA, NETHERLANDS, CANADA & IRELAND
These teams are potential banana skin for the big teams as Ireland showed us in 2007. However, under the new format, an odd win will not be enough to earn them a passage to the knock-out stage. They can nevertheless embarrass the big guns and earn some brownie points in cricket's quadrennial showpiece event.
