8 stars to watch this World Cup

The South African is arguably the best exponent of pace bowling in the world today. Steyn can be menacing on all types of wickets as he has all the variations in his repertoire. In him the Proteas have a very crafty bowler, who has the ability to force rivals on the backfoot with the new ball and bring on the different slower ones at the death, skills that will test the best batsmen. He is genuinely quick and hence the batsmen will not be keen to take risks against him on wickets that will offer plenty of carry. He will certainly pick up a few more tricks from bowling coach and legend Allan Donald and will be one of the key elements in South Africa’s bid for the title.

The aggressive left-handed opener is in great form in all formats and has been one of the crucial elements in Australia’s impressive run, at home and away. Warner has adopted only one approach to his batting — if the ball is meant to be hit, it stays hit. While he enjoys batting on wickets that offer bounce, he sometimes gets impetuous and gifts his wicket. However, the Australian poses a real threat and is probably tasked with giving the team the early advantage, which could prove a big factor because the co-hosts seldom let go after taking control, especially in familiar circumstances.

Although the England batsman is making his World Cup debut, he already shoulders a huge responsibility as one of the most dependable batsmen in the team. Root may not have been in the best form during the lead-up tri-series involving India and Australia, but is being touted as one of the brightest prospects for England. He has lived up to expectations in the past by playing crucial innings in the middle order.

The veteran of five World Cups, who will be aiming to exit on a high, must fancy his chances, especially after Pakistan won the showpiece when it was held Down Under in 1992. The veteran all-rounder could be at his most dangerous in Australia as the wickets will be conducive for stroke play. With the advantage of coming in late, the right-hander will also get the freedom to go after the bowling. In addition, his leg-spinners could be even more dangerous as he is likely to get plenty of purchase on the Australian wickets. The past record-holder of the fastest ODI century has not done justice to his immense talent on the big stage but, perhaps, the time has come.

The towering opener seems to be the biggest hope for the depleted West Indian team at the showpiece. The ‘Gayle force’, who is capable of inflicting total damage on rivals, warmed up for the showpiece with a blistering 90 against South Africa in a Twenty20 contest. However, if West Indies have to do well and regain their past glory, the left-hander needs to be consistent, which has never been his forte. And with so much ill-will with the way the team selection has been handled, or mishandled, the question is: will he be in the right frame of mind apart from his fitness worries?

The nonconformist pacer is the main weapon in Sri Lanka’s arsenal as he can easily tilt the balance in favour of the 2011 runners-up in one menacing spell, like he has done many times in the past. Malinga is capable of inflicting huge damage with his lethal yorkers, especially at the death, and is likely to get plenty of assistance from the fast-paced wickets in the Southern Hemisphere. But the big question is whether he will regain full fitness from the knee surgery he underwent late last year, as the islanders’ bowling suffered immensely without him during the recently concluded series against New Zealand.

The New Zealand skipper’s game has undergone a huge transformation since he took over the reins. Known for his audacious shot-making capabilities, McCullum, however, was inconsistent earlier and often would gift his wicket away. But now the responsibilities that have come with being skipper have made him change his approach and ensured that the co-hosts are one of the favourites for this tournament. The opener, who can change gears on cue and play some breathtaking cricketing shots, will be hard to contain in familiar surroundings.