Australia Winners of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy for a record four times, in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007, Australia will be hoping to better its own achievement by winning the 2011 trophy.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the hosts of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. It made its CWC debut in 1999 when it surprisingly defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in England.
Arguably the greatest moment in its cricketing history came when it defeated India at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and Bangladesh will be looking for more scalps in 2011.
Arguably the greatest moment in its cricketing history came when it defeated India at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and Bangladesh will be looking for more scalps in 2011.
Canada
Canada qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after finishing as
Canada qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 after finishing as
runners-up to Ireland at the ICC CWC Qualifier 2009 in South Africa.
England
England has never won the ICC Cricket World Cup, finishing as the runners-up in 1979, 1987 and 1992.
Netherland
The Netherlands gained a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by finishing fourth in the qualifying event in South Africa in 2009.
New Zealand
No team will be more desperate to win the ICC Cricket World Cup title than New Zealand, who despite reaching the semi-finals of the 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999 and the 2007 event, have never won the tournament.
South Africa
Having won an ICC event only once - the ICC Champions Trophy in 1998 - Graeme Smith's men will be hoping to improve on its record when it takes on West Indies in its opening game.West Indies
Once considered to be invincible in the game, West Indies will be looking to history for inspiration if it has to win the 2011 event.
Once considered to be invincible in the game, West Indies will be looking to history for inspiration if it has to win the 2011 event.
India
Cricket fever in India exploded after it won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983, when 'Kapil's Devils' convincingly defeated the previously invincible West Indies by 43 runs in the final at Lord's.
Pakistan
Pakistan made history when it won its first ICC Cricket World Cup title in 1992.Playing in his final ODI, skipper Imran Khan led his team to an unforgettable 22-run victory over England to claim the trophy.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's moment of glory in the ICC Cricket World Cup arrived in 1996, when the team, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, defeated Australia by seven wickets to claim its first CWC title.In a repeat of the 1996 event, Mahela Jayawardena led the team to the CWC 2007 final in Barbados, but was defeated by the Australians by 53 runs (D/L method).
With plenty of talent in the squad, which includes the likes of Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakeratne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara and the spin attack of Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis, the team has every opportunity to reclaim the trophy once again at home.
Ireland
Kenya
Kenya shocked the cricketing world with its fairytale run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, reaching the semi-finals by victories over Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and New Zealand (match forfeited).
Zimbabwe is known to create upsets in the ICC Cricket World Cup as it did against Australia in 1983, England in 1992, and India and South Africa in 1999.
ICC RANKINGS
ODI CRICKET
| Country | Rank | Ratings | |
| Australia | 1 | 128 | |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 118 | |
| India | 3 | 117 | |
| South Africa | 4 | 115 | |
| England | 5 | 112 |
