Cricket World Cup 2015: Key Players, Groups for ODI Tournament
The 2015 World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Saturday with both host nations in action and looking to make winning starts to their campaigns.
The Aussies and the Kiwis, along with South Africa, are among the favourites to win this year's tournament which will see the world's best ODI talents on display.
Two groups of seven will be cut to eight for the quarter-final stages, before being whittled down to two for March 29's Melbourne final.
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Read on for a look at the make-up of the two groups ahead of the tournament's opener between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and a close examination of those players expected to star Down Under.
| Pool A | Pool B |
| England | South Africa |
| Australia | India |
| Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| Bangladesh | West Indies |
| New Zealand | Zimbabwe |
| Afghanistan | Ireland |
| Scotland | United Arab Emirates |
Key Players
David Warner, Australia
For one of Test cricket's most explosive opening batsmen, David Warner's ODI stats are not actually overly impressive as he averages only 32.73, per ESPNcricinfo.
However, he looks to be finding his groove in the shorter form of the game at just the right time, per Cricbuzz:
He scored 104 against India in a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday following his 127 against England in the recent Tri-Series in January.
Warner and Aaron Finch will be vital at the top of the order for Australia in giving them starts to build on as they look to claim a fifth World Cup victory.
The 28-year-old left-hander thrives under pressure—and he will have the backing of home support—and looks set to be Australia's form batsman at the World Cup.
Kane Williamson, New Zealand
New Zealand's depth in the batting department makes them genuine contenders to win this year's World Cup as co-hosts.
In Kane Williamson they have one of the best ODI No. 3's in the world, and the 24-year-old is a terrific base around which Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and the rest can build their own scores.
Williamson has scored two ODI centuries already in 2015 against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and he has a career average of over 46, per ESPNcricinfo.
Cricket writer Freddie Wilde reckons he will be the tournament's top run-scorer, and it is hard to argue with such a prediction considering Williamson's form:
The Black Caps seemingly have terrific team spirit and a fine captain in McCullum. In Williamson they have the type of player who could push them on towards World Cup glory.
Dale Steyn, South Africa
Arguably world cricket's outstanding fast bowler at the moment, Dale Steyn will be crucial to South Africa's bid to win the World Cup.
In a group including the subcontinent likes of India and Pakistan, Steyn's aggression on fast pitches should give the Proteas an edge.
At 31 years old, this is likely Steyn's last chance to make a significant contribution at a World Cup as South Africa look to finally bag the top prize.
He will need to use the conditions to his advantage with variation and swing, but as one of the world's best manipulators of the ball, this should not be a problem.
As Sky Sports' Bob Willis suggests, Steyn should star in Australia and New Zealand, especially after averaging 16 in India in 2011's tournament, per ESPNcricinfo:
AB de Villiers is South Africa's star man with the bat, but Steyn's contribution is likely to be even more important given the importance of consistent wicket-taking in limited-overs cricket.
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