Your World Cup predictions

[bigfluffylemon]

Many are putting this down as the most open WC in years, but it wouldn't be CMS without some predictions. Here are mine.

Australia. Have been in great form all summer, tremendous depth of fast bowling in particular, strong batting and home advantage. The only question mark is over Clarke's fitness. Australia will be the team to beat. Prediction: Winner or runner up.

South Africa The 'choker' tag will continue to haunt them. A warm-up series in Australia suggested that there's still work to do, but there is no doubt SA are a strong contender. In ABdV and Amla they have two of the best batsmen in ODI cricket at the moment, and a strong pace line-up. However there is a lack of strength in depth in the squad - if those two batsmen fail to fire they could struggle. Prediction: Final or semi.

Sri Lanka Most experienced side in the competition, and runner up at the last two WCs, will this be their year? If it was in Asia I would say likely, but Sri Lanka rarely do well outside the subcontinent over a sustained campaign. The pitches in most of Australia will not be too bouncy, but they are likely to end up in NZ in the knockout stage which could be their undoing, although they've looked tidy there in the warm ups. Prediction: Semi final.

NZ 2014 was a wonder year for a side that usually overperforms in World Cups. Their form in warm ups has been strong and again there is home advantage. They probably don't have the quality to win, but I expect a strong performance. Prediction: Semi final, may sneak the final.

India Batting is (almost) as strong as ever, but India's pace battery looks very weak indeed and their record outside the subcontinent is abysmal. You can never write them off, as they are capable of beating anyone on the day, but the signs are not promising. Prediction: Semi final at best, more likely QF.

England After a lot of turmoil, England appear to be settling on a line up that amazingly looks to be in with a chance, but I think it is being overstated. On helpful pitches no-one will fancy facing their pace attack, unfortunately they won't get too many of those in Australia (maybe in NZ). Batting has the potential to be explosive but remains very fragile. I expect a major win over one of the other test playing sides that will get everyone's hopes up, some disappointing losses, and good enough performances against the associates to get through to the knockouts without ever looking good enough to win the thing. The inexperience in the squad makes it hard to see them going further. Prediction: QF.

Pakistan Always the most unpredictable team in world cricket. Their ODI performances in 2014 have been shocking, they have lost several key performers to suspect action and they are relying on ageing players. That said, they are unpredictable enough to cause a few upsets, and in a group with WI and three associates should do enough to get through to the knockouts. Prediction: QF

West Indies What a mess. Key players missing, squad morale is in the doldrums, and they've been hammered by South Africa in the lead up. With Gayle in the ranks a major victory is always a possibility (the man wins games on his own), but apart from England they look the most likely to suffer defeat at the hands of an associate. Prediction: QF, or maybe even an early exit.

Others The format of this World Cup makes it hard to see any associates making the knockouts, but there will no doubt be 'upset' victories scattered about. Ireland and Zimbabwe will both fancy their chances against WI and Pakistan, neither of whom have looked strong of late. Bangladesh may prey on England's general hopelessness against spin, although the pitches Down Under are highly unlikely to help. Scotland, Afghanistan and UAE are unlikely to feature anywhere.

So, how wrong can I be?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good post. Agree with this, apart from I think it's not an open competition, Australia are massive favourites.

And I'm sure others will contest Gayle's match winning ability in ODIs!

[Durhamfootman]

Australia have to be massive favourites, although as the OP suggests, NZ are looking very strong atm.

Gayle will have his usual one (and only one) explosive innings in the whole tournament which will further cement his undeserved reputation as a match winner. There are many players that I'd much prefer to have in a team of mine, ahead of Gayle

[Aidan11]

NZ to win.

Australia final or Semi Final.

Sri Lanka S/F

SA Semi Final

England second bottom of group.

[shankycricket]

Many are putting this down as the most open WC in years, but it wouldn't be CMS without some predictions. Here are mine.

Australia. Have been in great form all summer, tremendous depth of fast bowling in particular, strong batting and home advantage. The only question mark is over Clarke's fitness. Australia will be the team to beat. Prediction: Winner or runner up.

South Africa The 'choker' tag will continue to haunt them. A warm-up series in Australia suggested that there's still work to do, but there is no doubt SA are a strong contender. In ABdV and Amla they have two of the best batsmen in ODI cricket at the moment, and a strong pace line-up. However there is a lack of strength in depth in the squad - if those two batsmen fail to fire they could struggle. Prediction: Final or semi.

Sri Lanka Most experienced side in the competition, and runner up at the last two WCs, will this be their year? If it was in Asia I would say likely, but Sri Lanka rarely do well outside the subcontinent over a sustained campaign. The pitches in most of Australia will not be too bouncy, but they are likely to end up in NZ in the knockout stage which could be their undoing, although they've looked tidy there in the warm ups. Prediction: Semi final.

NZ 2014 was a wonder year for a side that usually overperforms in World Cups. Their form in warm ups has been strong and again there is home advantage. They probably don't have the quality to win, but I expect a strong performance. Prediction: Semi final, may sneak the final.

India : Batting is (almost) as strong as ever but India's pace battery looks very weak indeed and their record outside the subcontinent is abysmal. You can never write them off, as they are capable of beating anyone on the day, but the signs are not promising. Prediction: Semi final at best, more likely QF.

England After a lot of turmoil, England appear to be settling on a line up that amazingly looks to be in with a chance, but I think it is being overstated. On helpful pitches no-one will fancy facing their pace attack, unfortunately they won't get too many of those in Australia (maybe in NZ). Batting has the potential to be explosive but remains very fragile. I expect a major win over one of the other test playing sides that will get everyone's hopes up, some disappointing losses, and good enough performances against the associates to get through to the knockouts without ever looking good enough to win the thing. The inexperience in the squad makes it hard to see them going further. Prediction: QF.

Pakistan Always the most unpredictable team in world cricket. Their ODI performances in 2014 have been shocking, they have lost several key performers to suspect action and they are relying on ageing players. That said, they are unpredictable enough to cause a few upsets, and in a group with WI and three associates should do enough to get through to the knockouts. Prediction: QF

West Indies What a mess. Key players missing, squad morale is in the doldrums, and they've been hammered by South Africa in the lead up. With Gayle in the ranks a major victory is always a possibility (the man wins games on his own), but apart from England they look the most likely to suffer defeat at the hands of an associate. Prediction: QF, or maybe even an early exit.

Others The format of this World Cup makes it hard to see any associates making the knockouts, but there will no doubt be 'upset' victories scattered about. Ireland and Zimbabwe will both fancy their chances against WI and Pakistan, neither of whom have looked strong of late. Bangladesh may prey on England's general hopelessness against spin, although the pitches Down Under are highly unlikely to help. Scotland, Afghanistan and UAE are unlikely to feature anywhere.

So, how wrong can I be?

Which planet have you been living on? This is the weakest Indian ODI batting line up I've seen.

Also, have you checked Gayle's performances in ODIs over the last 2 years? A T20 hacker at best, nowadays.

[backfootpunch]

south africa have by far the best team on paper, 2 of the best ODI batsmen of all time, the best fast bowler in the world and in imran tahir a spinner who averages 20.2 in ODIs

it will be between them australia and new zealand imo

for some reason i have a feeling new zealand will win

[Durhamfootman]

England second bottom of group.

I think England ought to get out of the group, in 4th place, but I won't be surprised or shocked if they don't

[Gingerfinch]

Quarter-final 1 Australia v West Indies
Quarter-final 2 New Zealand v Pakistan
Quarter-final 3 England v India
Quarter-final 4 Sri-Lanka v South Africa

Semi Final 1 Australia v England
Semi Final 2 New Zealand v South Africa

Final Australia v South Africa

Winners South Africa

[rich1uk]

aidan will board the outrage bus at least once

shanks will say "i told you so" to everyone when india win the tournament

peter moores will say England have a lot of positives to take from their quarter-final loss and will be a better team in 4 years time

[Dr Cricket]

If their was a like button I will like your post rich.

[KipperJohn]

A team from Pool A or Pool B will win it.

[Making_Splinters]

England will have an in depth review after their World Cup exit. Going one step further, they will not have a settled side in four years time.

[from_the_stands]

I reckon we'll see a minnow qualify for the knock-outs, and I reckon it will be Afghanistan, who will get flogged by South Africa in the QF's, with the Saffas losing to NZ in the semis. The Oz-NZ final will go to a super over... and will end in a tie.

[Durhamfootman]

I reckon we'll see a minnow qualify for the knock-outs, and I reckon it will be Afghanistan, who will get flogged by South Africa in the QF's, with the Saffas losing to NZ in the semis. The Oz-NZ final will go to a super over... and will end in a tie.

Aus and NZ will draw lots to see who has won, and England's name will be drawn out of the hat

Peter Moores receives a knighthood for turning around the fortunes of the England ODI team, every member of the England squad receives an MBE apart from Morgan who receives an OBE. Paul Downton is allowed to keep his job for life after England's stunning first global ODI trophy, and aidan is never heard of again

[Durhamfootman]

I reckon we'll see a minnow qualify for the knock-outs, and I reckon it will be Afghanistan, who will get flogged by South Africa in the QF's, with the Saffas losing to NZ in the semis. The Oz-NZ final will go to a super over... and will end in a tie.

Aus and NZ will draw lots to see who has won, and England's name will be drawn out of the hat

Peter Moores receives a knighthood for turning around the fortunes of the England ODI team, every member of the England squad receives an MBE apart from Morgan who receives an OBE. Paul Downton is allowed to keep his job for life after England's stunning first global ODI trophy, and aidan is never heard of again

Arthur Crabtree becomes the first person to 35,000 posts