The 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in the UK that starts on Thursday is shaping up as one of the most open editions in the tournament's history
Below AFP Sport assesses the prospects of the eight competing sides:
Group A
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England
Seeding: 6th. ODI Ranking: 3rd
Have never won a major 50-over tournament and going 2-0 down to New Zealand in their ongoing ODI series has exposed lack of bowling depth. Much set to depend on form of talented Eoin Morgan in absence of injured star batsman Kevin Pietersen.
Australia
Seeding: 1st. ODI Ranking: 2nd
May be missing several familiar faces but the defending champions still thrashed West Indies 5-0 at home in their last ODI series. The form of all-rounder Shane Watson could be key to their chances.
New Zealand
Seeding: 7th. ODI Ranking: 8th
Perennially punch above their weight in ICC tournaments and were losing finalists at the last Champions Trophy. Could go one better if Martin Guptill maintains the form that has seen him score back-to-back hundreds in the ongoing series with England.
Sri Lanka
Seeding: 4th. ODI Ranking: 5th
Have appeared in the finals of several recent ICC events without lifting a trophy and may struggle if conditions are typically English. But the likes of unorthodox paceman Lasith Malings still capable of troubling the world's best batsmen.
Group B
India
Seeding: 2nd. ODI Ranking: 1st
Will want to put all the recent fixing scandals in the Indian Premier League behind them. Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains an inspiring captain and Ravindra Jadeja a dangerous player, but the question is will they be able to concentrate solely on their cricket?
Pakistan
Seeding: 5th. ODI Ranking: 6th
Capable of declining from sublime to the ridiculous in the space of two matches, they appear to be a united side under Misbah-ul-Haq and potentially have one of the bowlers of the tournament in off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
South Africa
Seeding: 3rd. ODI Ranking: 4th
Strong-looking squad who will be desperate to shed their reputation as repeat-chokers in one-day events. Have world's two top-ranked batsmen in captain AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla.
West Indies
Seeding: 8th. ODI Ranking: 7th.
Won the last Champions Trophy in England in 2004 and last year's World Twenty20. May do well to get out of a tough group but anything possible if hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle finds form.u00a0
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