The 3rd edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is all set to get underway in England. The biggest cricketing extravaganza since the World Cup will see twelve teams battling it out against each other in a fortnight of enthralling cricket. Also known as the Mini World Cup, the Champions Trophy will see teams divided into four groups (three teams in each group). One team from each of the four will qualify for the semi-finals.

On current form, Australia is undoubtedly the favourite to win the tournament. But in such a format where virtually every game is a knockout, anything is possible. Also one needs to keep in mind that Australia has struggled in the previous two edition of this tournament. The Aussies are considered somewhat slow beginners. This was evident in their '99 World Cup campaign held here in England itself. In fact they lost to New Zealand and Pakistan very early in that competition before bouncing back to capture the biggest prize in this game. There will be no chances for making a comeback here as one defeat could seal their fate. The Australians will have to be at their supreme best to take home this elusive trophy. And knowing the professionals the Australians are, it is very likely they will put it across the others this time round.

Aussies are not the only ones in the fray though. Agreed they are hot favourites, but Sri Lanka's form is ominous too. Winning the Asia cup and a clean sweep in the one-day series against the struggling South Africans has put the island nation among the top contenders for the title. Sri Lanka's success of late sans Muralitharan has proved that they are no longer solely dependent on the crafty of-spinner. The emergence of Nuwan Zoysa and Upul Chandana has strengthened the bowling line up enormously. With Chaminda Vaas in top gear and Lokuarachi doing a decent job in the absence of Murali, Sri Lanka can send some alarm bells ringing in the opposition camp. In the batting department, Sanath Jayasurya seems to have regained some lost touch and this is certainly danger signals for bowling attacks all over the world. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are also among the runs while Attapatu's captaincy has come in for a lot of praise too. If the Sri Lankans maintain this momentum, it will be difficult to stop the Lankan juggernaut.

Another team that has come on in leaps and bounds over the last year is England. Their recent performances include Test series wins over the West Indies and New Zealand and also a one day triumph against India in the Natwest Challenge. The England team has been buoyed by the tremendous progress of Harmison and Flintoff in the last few months. Both these talented cricketers will have to play a major role if England wants to come anywhere close to winning this tough tournament.

Among the other teams, Pakistan and India are the dark horses. The former has beaten India twice recently in the Asia Cup and the Holland series avenging the defeats at home to some extent. But they failed to win both the tournaments. The enigmatic Pakistanis can blow hot and cold. So no one knows what to expect from this talented bunch of cricketers. Watch out for Shoaib Mailk though. This young and confident Pakistani is soon emerging as a world class all-rounder.

Pakistan's arch-rivals India have had a forgettable run-up to the Champions Trophy. Disappointment in Sri Lanka and humiliation in Holland was followed by another defeat in the recently concluded Natwest Trophy. But a win in the final one-dayer at Lords must have given some hope to the Indians. Unless their batting line-up fires, it will be difficult for India to progress too far in the tournament. Now that Tendulkar is out of the Champions Trophy, it is important the other senior members particularly Sehwag and Laxman strike form. Just 30's and 40's will not win any matches for India against top oppositions.

The winners of the inaugural edition, South Africa, are down in the dumps at the moment. Except for Kallis and Pollock, they have no other world-class performers. Klusener's slump in form and Gibbs' poor run has only accentuated the problems for the Proteas. They would do well to take some heart from their performances in '98 when they lifted this cup.

Another former champions New Zealand are not in the best of form either. But under the spirited Stephen Fleming, one can expect them to put up a better show than the one against England recently. Not many would give West Indies a chance on their current record. The once formidable Windies are only a shadow of the team that dominated cricket two decades ago. But the beauty of this tournament is such that anything is possible. One good day and they can be through to the semi-finals. And one must not forget that the West Indians in fact reached the finals in Dhaka back in the first edition in '98. A couple of Brian Lara specials and the opposition might well be seen eating humble pie.

Whatever be the result, one thing is for sure. We are in for some real entertaining cricket. The coming fortnight will see the best in the game coming face to face against each other. And whoever eventually holds the trophy, the game of cricket will be the real winner.

May the best team win!