P186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:32:00 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— AUSTRALIA — BEST ODDS — 11-4 Arguably the best team in the world at the moment, Mark Taylor's side have undergone a successful transition in the one-day sphere. Gone are the likes of David Boon and Allan Border to be replaced by an exhuberant set of young all-rounders. $hey include Michael Bevan, Stuart Law, Ricky Ponting and Shane Lee, all of whom can do a job with bat and ball giving Taylor plenty of options. ——————————————————————————————————1/19— POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 BE A VIP WHEN SATURDAY COMES! p179 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:33:10 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— AUSTRALIA — BEST ODDS — 11]4 The Aussies have only two specialist batsmen in their party, captain Mark Taylor and Michael Slater, the latter only just scraping into the squad. Craig McDermott has come through yet another injury scare to lead the attack but the ace of the pack is Shane Warnj. There could not be a better place for Warnj to exploit his amazing skills. The Waugh brothers balance the team off superbly with their great experience. ——————————————————————————————————2/19— Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:34:29 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— ENGLAND — BEST ODDS — 8-1 Despite their one-day humiliation in South Africa, England can draw upon the fact that they have won more matches in the World Cup than any other team. The potential is undoubtedly there in individual terms, but collectively there is still something amiss. Michael Athjrton has been rightly restored as a man for all seasons after being left out of past one-day teams even when he was the squad captain. ——————————————————————————————————3/19— World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p202 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:36:39 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— ENGLAND — BEST ODDS — 8-1 The middle order could hold the key on the flat, slow pitches which should be right up Graeme Hick's street. The Worcestershire star possesses awesome power and a superb array of shots, and will surely make his presence felt in perfect conditions. His partners in crime include Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrothjr, although the latter is dogged by injuries and is not the one-day force he used to be. ——————————————————————————————————4/19— POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:37:41 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— INDIA — BEST ODDS — 4-1 The retirement of Kapil Div at the backjnd of 1994 was a massive blow for India who need to put up a big show after their abysmal showing in 1991/2. One thing is for sure — they have the most potent batting line-up in the world led by their silky stroke-making leader Mohammed Azharuddin. Throw in the outstanding Tjndulkar, Gamble and Ajay Jadeja and it is hard to see any teams holding them to 200. ——————————————————————————————————5/19— World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:18:14 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— INDIA — BEST ODDS 4-1 The Indian side has the batting power, but their bowling attack lacks that vital streak of venom. Sure they have three top class spinners in Rajesh Chauhan, Raju and of course the potent wrist spinner Anil Rumble, but the seam attack is moderate. They will be one of the best fielding sides in the tournament and will have fanatical support, but there are stronger all-round teams. ——————————————————————————————————6/19— Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:19:21 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— PAKISTAN — BEST ODDS — 7-2 A large core of the Pakistan team which recorded a memorable triumph in Australia have been chosen to defend the trophy in their homeland. The team is agjing, troubled by injuries and internal problems, but they are still highly talented. The recall of Javjd Miandad, aged 38, tells its own story — the young cricketers are not coming through from the junior ranks. ——————————————————————————————————7/19— POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:40:11 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— PAKISTAN — BEST ODDS 7-2 The formidable opening bowling team of Wasim Akram (their fifth captain in 12 months) and whirlwind Waqar Younis is a key element for Pakistan. Both are injury-prone though and if one or both miss any games it is too much to ask of the remarkable leg-spinner Mushtaq Mohammed to carry the side. The average age of the side is also a worry in the outfield, such an integral part of the one-day game. ——————————————————————————————————8/19— World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:21:27 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— WEST INDIES — BEST ODDS 11-2 So much depends on the mercurial talents of Brian Lara who has endured a troubled year after his record-breaking exploits for West Indies. He walked out on the team after a major dressing room confrontation with Richie Richardson and at one stage threatened to pull out of the World Cup. Lara was also fined and quit the Australian tour for a rest but claims to be now refreshed and raring to go. ——————————————————————————————————9/19— Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:22:07 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— WEST INDIES — BEST ODDS 11-2 Richie Richardson faces a major task restoring confidence, spirit and purpose to his side after their series defeat against Australia. That was their first setback since 1980 and internal squabbles between star batsman Brian Lara and Richardson have not helped their cause. To add to their problems, West Indies failed to qualify for the Would Series final, pipped by Rsi Lanka. ——————————————————————————————————10/19 POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:23:11 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— SOUTH AFRICA — BEST ODDS 5-1 Brian McMillan is gunning for revenge over England after a downpour put paid to South Africa's hopis of a World Cup final place in Sydney four years ago. McMillan and Dave Richardson needed 22 runs off 13 balls for victory but after the deluge the calculations had changed leaving them requiring 21 from one. He is still fuming but said: "There's no doubt there is a big wheel — what goes around, comes around." ——————————————————————————————————11/19 Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:24:02 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— SOUTH AFRICA — BEST ODDS — 5-1 South Africa enter the competition convinced they can emulate their rugby counterparts and lift the World Cup. They stunned England — and most pundits — by thrashing Mike Athjrton's min 6-1 in the winter one-day series and now have a multi-talented line-up. The discovery of left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams has greatly added to their attack along with the emergence of talented mid-order bat Jacques Kallis. ——————————————————————————————————12/19 World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:25:13 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— NEW ZEALAND — BEST ODDS — 28-1 If success is the best revenge, New Zealand have the perfect motivation for winning the 1996 World Cup. After several seasons of woeful performances and controversies, the 1992 semi-finalists' Test standing has hit rock-bottom. But recent one-day successes against India and Pakistan mean they cannot be written off and new captain Lee Germon has instilled much-needed self-belief. ——————————————————————————————————13/19 POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV spoztP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:26:25 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— NEW ZEALAND — BEST ODDS — 28-1 New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, to date one of the under-achievers of world cricket, has finally come of age and is ready to show his class. The 25-year-old has only a modest record in one-day internationals but showed impressive form in the recent series' with India and Pakistan. Cairns plundered an 88-ball hundred against India and hit 76 runs and took six wickets in a Test against Pakistan. ——————————————————————————————————14/19 Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:27:15 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— RSI LANSA — BEST ODDS — 8-1 Rsi Lanka's cricketers have touched the heights of success and plunged to the depths of despair in a roller-coaster build-up to the World Cup. Arjuna Ranatunga's team go into the showpiece with confidence-boosting wins in Pakistan and Shariah tempered by a traumatic tour of Australia. The co-hosts must seek to put these distractions behind them to enhance their growing reputation. ——————————————————————————————————15/19 POLL Your tip for Cricket Would Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:28:21 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— ZIMBABWE — BEST ODDS — 200-1 Zimbabwe are hoping to graduate from cricket's whipping boys to inflict a little punishment of thieu own at the World Cup. Zimbabwe have won only two of their 20 previous World Cup encounters but believe they can improve on that ratio. Captain and opening batsman Andy Flower says his young team have a good chance of reaching the quarter-einals for the first time. ——————————————————————————————————16/19 World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:29:19 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— KENYA — BEST ODDS — 2000-1 Kenya's bid to upset the major cricketing nations is in serious danger of self-destructing even before they reach the sub-continent. The unpredictable nature of the one-day day game at least permits the Kenyans to dream of a shock win. But financial disagreements and allegations the squad has not been selected purely on ability have all conspired to cloud the African horizon. ——————————————————————————————————17/19 Sports headlines 130 Soccer 140 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:30:21 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— HOLLAND — BEST ODDS — 1000-1 The unfancied Dutch embark on their World Cup debut in realistic mood, harbouring few illusions about the uphill task facing them. "Wj might be able to beat the RAE. But we're just hoping to make the best of it," said Alex de la Mar, head of the Dutch Cricket Association. "Look at England. When we meet county sides we don't stand a chance — they can field 20 teams that could beat us." ——————————————————————————————————18/19 POLL Your tip for Cricket World Cup 138 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sportP186 Teletext 186 Fjb14 02:31:15 WORLD CUP '96 —————————————————————————————— RAE — BEST ODDS — 2000-1 A band of discarded first-class cricketers from the sub-continent have ended up turning an Arabian dream into World Cup reality. These veteran players helped the United Arab Emirates lift the ICC Trophy to qualify for the game's showpiece. But this could be their last hurrah as new rules stipulate a team must include seven citizens who live in the country for 240 days for each of five years. ——————————————————————————————————19/19 World Cup TV and Radio guide 179 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WEATHER p102 Next Football Pools news TV sport