5 Reasons to Believe Australia Will Win the 2015 Cricket World Cup

Less than two weeks separate us from the beginning of the 2015 Cricket World Cup, as the world's elite nations descend on Australia and New Zealand to fight for cricket's greatest prize.

In what looks like an even tournament on paper, Australia, South Africa, India and New Zealand will likely enter the competition as the strongest outfits, with the likes of Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan and the West Indies all lurking just behind—all extremely dangerous on their day. 

However, despite the appearance of a fairly level playing field, it's Australia who possess the strongest case in their bid for the title. Of course, at home, the hosts do have the most to lose and will carry the most pressure, but the key indicators still suggest it's Australia who are the team to beat. 

Across the following slides, we examine why. 

Australia's Recent ODI Record at Home Is Outstanding

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With their emphatic capture of the Carlton Mid One-Day International Tri-Series trophy last week, Australia have now won six of their last seven one-day series on home soil dating back to early 2011, with the only blemish on the record being a 2-2 draw with Sri Lanka in 2013. 

In that period of dominance at home, the Aussies have triumphed in 31 of their 41 completed matches.

If you limit the timeframe further, it makes for even more ominous reading for Australia's World Cup rivals. 

Since February 1, 2013, Australia's one-day record at home reads as follows: 19 games completed, 17 wins and all four trophies collected. 

That's as imposing as a record gets ahead of a World Cup. 

Australia's Dominance at Home Includes Thumping Records Against Major Rivals

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The incredible home record on the previous slide would mean little if it had been compiled against a collection of the world's weaker sides. 

But it hasn't. 

When South Africa—considered by many to be Australia's biggest threat at this World Cup—came to Australia full of confidence for a five-game ODI series in November, they were sent home with a 4-1 thrashing. 

In the recently concluded triangular series, Australia made light work of India, the defending World Cup champions. That extended Australia's recent record to four wins from their last five games at home against MS Dhoni's side. 

It's the same if you look at many of the other major sides set to compete at the approaching global tournament. 

On home soil (note: varying timeframes), Australia have won 10 of their last 11 completed matches against England, all 17 of their most recent clashes with the West Indies, nine of their last 10 against Pakistan and nine of their last 11 against New Zealand.

The message here? Defeating Australia at home is extremely difficult.

No Team Is Better Suited to the Conditions

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Underpinning that staggering recent record in 50-over cricket on home soil is Australia's extreme advantage in the conditions that are typically found at the major Australian venues. 

Indeed, the fast and bouncy pitches found Down Under are rarely seen elsewhere in the world—only South Africa produces surfaces of a similar nature. They provide an enormous advantage to Australia's battery of elite fast bowlers, who, as we've recently seen, are capable of dismantling every batting lineup they're faced with. 

Heading into this World Cup, the Aussies possess an attack that includes Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. It's perhaps the finest fast-bowling group in the tournament, and all four men are capable of bowling in excess of 145 km/h—the sort of speed that unsettles opponents. 

Additionally, the grounds in Australia are bigger than those seen elsewhere around the world, giving yet another edge to the hosts' array of powerful and muscular batsmen who are accustomed to clearing the boundaries that are longer than they are anywhere else. 

Whereas small grounds often level the playing field, the expansive playing surfaces in Australia tend to exaggerate the difference between the best and the rest. 

Australia's Squad Is Packed with Versatility and Match-Winners

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To win World Cups—something Australia know more about than any other nation, having claimed the title four times—a squad needs an abundance of two things: versatility and match-winners. 

Australia have both.

Possessing a squad packed full of explosive talent with both the bat and the ball, Australia head into this World Cup with a 15-man group that is as potent as any.

But what stands out in the Australian squad is how many options the team has—how the balance of the side can be altered to suit the opponent without upsetting the strength of the XI. 

It's the presence of so many high-quality all-rounders that gives Australia's squad that quality. In Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner, the Aussies have four men who are both devastating strikers of the ball with the bat in hand as well as extremely useful fourth and fifth bowling options. 

Those four players ensure there's incredible depth in both disciplines for Australia, and they allow the team to be perhaps the most versatile side in the tournament. 

Australia Enter the World Cup as the No. 1 Side in the World

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A quick glance at the ICC rankings tells you all you need to know: Australia are the No. 1 ODI side in the world. 

If there had been any debate to the matter, the string of recent emphatic victories in 50-over cricket over South Africa, England and India ended it. 

With a rating of 120, Australia are six rating points clear of India in second place—the same gap that separates second from fourth. 

Whichever way you look at it, Australia are the team to beat in the World Cup.