Champions Trophy: How the teams measure up

India Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Strong batting throughout completed by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the best finisher in world cricket. Won the last World Cup in a country where one-day cricket is king.

WEAKNESSES

Shortage of quality pace bowlers.

KEY PLAYER

Virat Kohli has matured into a classy, aggressive batsman who averages just under 50 in One-Day Internationals.

ODDS 7/1

SQUAD

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravinda Jadeja, Virat Kholi, Amit Mishra, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Vinay Kumar.

Australia Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Potential match-winners in captain Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and David Warner with the bat and the two left-arm fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. Won the last two Champions Trophies in India and South Africa.

WEAKNESSES

Still in transition after losing a host of great players in quick succession, with Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey both retiring this year.

ODDS 5/1

KEY PLAYER

Opening batsman Watson can dominate any attack with his meaty drives and pulls and he is also an experienced and wily medium-pace bowler.

SQUAD

Michael Clarke (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Xavier Doherty, Phillip Hughes, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Voges, David Warner.

Pakistan Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Overseas conditions hold no terrors for Pakistan who will play all their cricket abroad in the foreseeable future after the armed attack on the Sri Lanka side four years ago. They can also produce minor miracles when in seeming disarray as they did in winning the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup.

WEAKNESSES

The loss of pace bowler Umar Gul to injury is a serious blow and the batting is inexperienced.

ODDS 8/1

KEY PLAYER

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal is the best spin bowler in the tournament.

SQUAD

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Amin.

England Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

England's pace attack is ideally placed to take advantage of the new rules providing for a new ball at each end. The hosts' recent home record is also good as they endeavour to win their first global 50 overs trophy.

WEAKNESSES

The top-order batting in the absence of Kevin Pietersen is one-paced and the backup pace bowling in the series loss to New Zealand was inadequate.

ODDS

5/1

KEY PLAYER

James Anderson at the peak of his powers, will be key to his team's prospects as a strike bowlers at the top, middle and end of the innings.

SQUAD

Alastair Cook (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara. Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Joe Root, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.

South Africa Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Solid all-round side with an attack spearheaded by the menace of Dale Steyn and bounce of Morne Morkel. Always field brilliantly and determined to erase their reputation as chokers in big tournaments.

WEAKNESSES

The absences of Graeme Smith (injury) and Jacques Kallis (personal reasons) weaken the specialist batting.

ODDS 4/1 (favourites)

KEY PLAYER

AB de Villiers carries a heavy burden as captain, wicketkeeper and brilliant attacking batsmen. If he fires in all three roles, South Africa will be the side to beat

SQUAD

AB de Villiers (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Rory Kleinveldt, David Miller, Alviro Petersen, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn.

Sri Lanka Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Versatile and prolific top-order batting complemented by the all-round skills of captain Angelo Mathews. Lasith Malinga, who now confines himself to One-Day cricket only, is always a threat with his slingy round-arm variations.

WEAKNESSES

Always a threat in Asian conditions but not so successful in England. Have lost their last four major finals.

ODDS 8/1

KEY PLAYER

Former captain Kumar Sangakkara is a vastly experienced and prolific top-order batsman who also keeps wicket in one-day internationals.

SQUAD

Angelo Mathews (captain), Dilhara Lokuhettige, Shaminda Eranga, Mahela Jaywardene, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake.

West Indies Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

West Indies, led by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, abound with talent in all departments and their victory in the last Twenty20 World Cup was a welcome reminder of the glamour and excitement they once brought to one-day cricket.

WEAKNESSES

Top-order batting is notoriously fallible.

ODDS 9/1

KEY PLAYER

Chris Gayle can demolish any attack and on his day he is the most destructive one-day batman in the world.

SQUAD

Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

New Zealand Champions Trophy prospects:

STRENGTHS

Combative, well-drilled side who have won series in South Africa and England this year and who consistently perform well in big tournaments.

WEAKNESSES

Some bits-and-pieces all-rounders whose bowling could be exposed on good pitches.

KEY PLAYER

Ross Taylor is his country's best and most consistent batsman in test and one-day cricket with a range of strokes which enable him to score quickly without taking risks.

ODDS 12/1

SQUAD

Brendon McCullum (captain), Ian Butler, James Franklin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Kyle Mills, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Doug Bracewell, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Colin Munro, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori.