Pietersen key to England's World Cup hopes

For the next six weeks there will be nothing but cricket on satellite television and it couldn't be better for the armchair viewer. The games generally start at around 2pm and finish at 11pm, meaning the start of the second innings run-chase is a welcome alternative to Hollyoaks when you sit down with your dinner.

England's recent form gives optimism that they can at last make a good fist of things on the world stage, and they shouldn't have too many problems in being one of the top two teams to qualify from a group that contains New Zealand and the lightweights of Kenya and Canada.

Kevin Pietersen is the obvious candidate to be England's main match-winner, and the small grounds and slow wickets in the West Indies could become Pietersen's stage.

The fact the wickets are generally expected to be slow means Jon Lewis could be an unlikely hero for England. If he bowls his usual line and length, he could be very hard for opposition batsman to dominate and the wickets will follow.

Sri Lanka look like dark horses to repeat their surprise triumph of 1996. They have a powerful batting line-up, led by the evergreen Sanath Jayasuria and skipper Mahela Jayawardene, and their bowling attack contains the best spinner at the tournament - Muttiah Muraliatharan - and the slingy Lasith Malinga.

It is amazing how Australia have been written off by all and sundry after a few recent defeats. Those losses have shattered the air of invincibility that surrounds them, but they still have 11 match-winners in their team and have the winning mentality that could count in close matches.

South Africa go into the tournament as the number one side in the world, and the draw has been kind to them. They will play Australia in the group stages, meaning they would avoid them again until the semis, or even the final.

Led by canny Graeme Smith, the South Africans bat all the way down and they also have some handy bowlers in the form of Andre Nel, Makaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock. The Proteas have scored some mammoth totals in the last year, including 438-9 to win a game against Australia in Johannesburg.

Lance Klusener may be consigned to county cricket these days, but no ground is big enough if people like Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock start wielding the willow.

Pakistan will probably flatter to deceive, and their fielding could let them down. However, they have some of the best batsman at the tournament in Inzamam, Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf. Doubts remain over their temperament, and their bowling attack could suffer without injured lynchpins Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Akhtar.

Whatever happens with Pakistan, it won't be dull - especially if Shahid Afridi is in form.

India have the talent to go all the way, but they are relying on the old guard to plunder their runs and that means they are asking some old legs to go out and dive around in the field too.

Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh will be miserly if they get to operate in tandem and India could have found a real gem in fast bowler Munaf Patel.

The hosts, the West Indies, can never be discounted when Brian Lara is in their midst and they will be cheered on by a fervent home crowd.

Jermone Taylor looks a potential star, and if they can put it all together as a team then they could spring a few shocks.

Of all the minnows, it is hard to see any of them winning more than one game between them. Bangladesh and Kenya look capable, while Ireland have impressed to an extent in the warm-ups but they form the cannon fodder that ensures the tournament is more a marathon than a sprint.

If England are to win this drawn out affair, they need strong finishers (Kevin Pietersen) and to stay injury free (Michael Vaughan take note).

If ever there was a carrot for the England players to do well, it is to stay in the Caribbean that bit longer so that they can avoid the April showers that will blight the next month for their county team-mates.

England expects.