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Game 1: New Zealand versus Zimbabwe, October 24, 1998

For starters, the squads. Which line up as follows:

New Zealand: SP Fleming, GI Allott, NJ Astle, MD Bailey, MD Bell, SB Doull, CZ Harris, MJ Horne, CD McMillan, SB O'Connor, AC Parore, AR Tait, DL Vettori, PJ Wiseman.

Zimbabwe: ADR Campbell, A Flower, GJ Rennie, GW Flower, CB Wishart, MW Goodwin, CN Evans, PA Strang, HH Streak, NC Johnson, M Mbangwa, AR Whittall, HK Olonga, AG Huckle.

Both are very good one day sides, fielding in particular being their USP. And in the given conditions, the runs the fielders save are going to be far more crucial than say on a sub-continental belter, where a single saved can be compensated by an over the top clout for the maximum.

The most obvious omission is that of Chris Cairns, from the New Zealand side -- an omission that, given the nature of the tournament, should hurt the Kiwis' chances to a considerable degree, as Cairns is dangerous with the bat in the late overs, and capable of keeping it stump to stump, and bowling to a set field.

Other than the absence of Cairns, it would appear on paper that New Zealand have the stronger, more exerienced side, and that therefore, they should be fancied to win. In fact, I am told that the bookies odds, at this point, are on the Kiwis to sail through the opening encounter with ease.

I'm not so sure it is a done deal, like it's being made out to be, though. For one thing, the Zimbabwe batting, from what we saw during the Indian tour there, is improving rapidly. They are getting to be very good at working the ball around, racing very quick singles. Strang's return gives them 10 very tight overs in the middle, and Streak is a hugely experienced opening bowler, capable of bowling a very restrictive first spell, as the Indians found out. The weakness here could be the inexperience of the pacy Neil Johnson and Olonga -- drifting off the given line even once in an over could prove extremely costly in a tournament where, I suspect, every run will have to be earned.

On paper, the Kiwis look favoured to win. But in my book, if Alistair Campbell wins the toss and bats first, the first game of the tournament is liable to provide its first upset. Given that factor -- that Zimbabwe bats first -- I would back Campbell's men to win, more so because while Zimbabwe is coming in with the high of a Test-win against India and a good ODI win against the same opponent in the third game, the Kiwis are relatively rusty.

• Game 2: England versus South Africa, October 25, 1998
• Game 3: Sri Lanka versus winner of New Zealand versus Zimbabwe , October 26, 1998
• Game 4: India versus Australia, October 28, 1998
• Game 5: Pakistan versus West Indies, October 29, 1998
• Knock, knock, who's out?