Breaking them down into 5 sections

England
New Zealand
India

South Africa
Sri Lanka
Australia

Pakistan
West Indies

Ireland
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe

Scotland
UAE

In 1992 there were two 39 year olds in the final. 39 games in competition.

Venues

MCG
SCG
Adelaide
Brisbane
Perth
Camberra
Hobart

Auckland
Wellington
Hamilton
Napier
Christchurch
Dunedin
Nelson

NZ - Drew away vs SL, drew home vs Eng, won home vs Ind, won away vs WI, drew away vs Pak. Fastest improving Test side? Watch out Eng in May...
NZ 15 man squad gets named on 8th Jan

Younis’s last Test coming up. He will be shown the door after his inevitable struggles in the one day format. Almost a given he will play now.

Pak’s first 2 games vs former winners, then 2 against minnows, then 2 against teams they have a 100% defeat record against in the tournament.

Ideal World Tournament Final

Pak vs Eng

Pak vs Ind

Pak vs WI

Eng vs Ind

WI vs NZ

SL vs SA

SA vs Eng

Eng vs WI

Aus vs Ind

Pak vs Aus

Who I’ll be supporting at CWC

1)    England

2)    Pakistan

3)    Afghanistan

4)    New Zealand

5)    UAE

6)    West Indies

7)    South Africa

8)    Scotland

If England still had 3 world class players - Trott, KP and Swann – I think their chances would have been rated higher

But still they got to the final of CT13 without KP and Swann in not too dissimilar conditions to what they’ll be getting early next year

Eng beaten twice by SL in QFs, won’t have to face them this time in QFs

This day last year England went 1 down in Brisbane.

The debutants were outstanding for Pakistan in Kallis's ODI return http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-pakistan-2013-14/engine/current/match/685731.html

SA, SL, Ind got to the semis of both CT13 and WT20 2014
Pak and Aus didn't
WI and Eng did 1 each
SA lost both semis
Ind won both semis

India

Holders of the World Cup
Holders of the Champions Trophy
Finalists of the World T20
ACC Emerging Team Cup winners
Won their last tri series
Under 19 Asia Cup winners
Number 1 ranked ODI team
Owners of the IPL and CL

30 years ago today Wasim Akram made his international debut. The start of a 19 year long international career which bagged him 916 scalps.

This suggests to me spin isn't his strong point. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/649089.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/engine/match/781077.html http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/engine/match/742609.html All times bowled.

No Hafeez, Manzoor, Shehzad. Not a more technically well equipped top order against pace Pak have had for a long time. LBW candidates if anything. 

Tempting to introduce spin early. 2 left handers. Both limited against spin.

Imagine if they had Vettori and Jeetan Patel? Serious challenge. 

Margins of the 15 - 10 wickets, 196 runs, 7 wkts, 9 wkts, innings, 7 wkts, 10 wkts, 70 runs, 70 runs, 200 runs, 7 wkts, 5 wkts & last 3 wins

Pak – Zimbabwe

On the birthday of Afridi and Rehman

Interesting situation for Grant Flower

Misbah has a 9-2 captaincy record against them. 5-1 ODIs

They’ve had recent success against Pak – winning an ODI and Test 2013

Only deserving seniors and a young team should be sent to Aus/NZ. Start building for 2017 CT and 2019. Both in early season English conditions.

Why CT is increasingly important now

Held 2 years after last CWC, 2 years before next CWC – ideal time to assess – breaking down the four year cycle  

Held every 4 years as opposed to 2 – making it a bigger event

Held in the same country of the next CWC

Acknowledged as a liked concentrated competition which is the toughest to win
For teams like England and Pakistan it should be an added incentive because they've never won it

CWC is not everything

Other competitions as well

They are better designed competitions in many cases

By doing well in them you are automatically building for the next CWC

Shouldn't plan overly early. 4 years long time. Injuries, loss of form, disputes happen.

Warne = Australia vs South Africa final

Allan Border = Australia vs South Africa final

Tendulkar = Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India will reach semis

Martin Crowe = Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa semis

Aamir Sohail = Australia, South Africa and India are the front runners

Mark Butcher = Australia will win it

Nick Knight = Australia will win it

Ricky Ponting = It will be an Australia-India final

Pak might as well not turn up………..