Jacques Kallis is the best allrounder in the world. The burly Capetonian bats at number three or four in the South African line-up, although this World Cup is more likely to find him in the latter position. He is the rock amongst SA's batsmen: able to focus mercilessly for long periods of time and defy the opposition bowling. He is also capable of accelerating the scoring with a wide array of strokes. He has no discernable weakness against pace or spin bowling. He is a difficult man to dislodge.

Kallis is also one of the ten best seam bowlers in the world. He usually moves the ball away from the right-handed batsman and possesses a short ball surprising in its pace, as well as a slow ball surprising in its lack of pace. He is likely to feature first change, but is also very adept at firing in the yorkers at the death.

Andrew Flintoff was born on 6 December 1977 in Preston. The right-handed all-rounder made his test debut on 23 July 1998 against South Africa at Nottingham. But in spite of his natural talent Flintoff's cricketing career took a while to take off. He was overweight and unfit. Dropped from the England team in 2001 he determined to get into shape and dropped about two stone to around 16.5 stone. Flintoff used the services of former Great Britain rugby league international Steve Hampson to help him improve his fitness.

Daniel Vettori is a left-arm off-spinner who possesses a dangerous arm ball and bowls with great control and variation. He is also an effective lower order batsman, averaging 22.40 in Tests with a highest score of 137 not out. Vettori was New Zealand's youngest ever Test cricketer when he played at the age of 18 years 10 days in 1997. He has since gone on to take 139 ODI wickets at 34.48 and 196 Test wickets at 35.65.

Probably the most encouraging news to come out of the summer of 2002-03 was the sight of Daniel Vettori exhibiting some of the skills that have made him New Zealand's premier cricket spinner.

Having put the stress fracture in his back, and lack of suitable opportunities due to unhelpful pitches, behind him, he has demonstrated all the guile that saw him selected as New Zealand's youngest Test player at age 18. As a spinner, he was the fastest to reach 100 Test wickets, but as plenty more promised to come, he went through a slump in form during 2003 and 2004. He showed signs of recapturing his old magic on the tour of England in 2004, but a torn hamstring in the second Test at Headingley cut short his tour. He feasted on his return against Bangladesh in October 2004, taking 20 for 224 in the two-match rout. A handy batsman down the order, he has also passed 1000 Test runs. He hit his second Test match hundred in August 2005 against Zimbabwe, and was named Stephen Fleming's replacement captain - Fleming was recovering from surgery to remove a benign tumour - for Australia's tour during the Chappell-Hadlee trophy in December 2005.

Chaminda Vaas born on January, 27, 1974 in Mattumagala is a best fast bowler of Sri Lanka Cricket team. He is a left arm swing bowler and is capable of generating reverse swing. Vaas opens the bowling for Sri Lanka and is noted for his indipper. Also among his arsenal is an offcutter which is well disguised. He made his debut for the Sri Lankan cricket team in 1994. He made an impact in his first year of international cricket as he helped Sri Lanka to their maiden Test Match victory away from home, against New Zealand at Napier. Vaas took 5-47 in the first innings and 5-43 in the second.

20 year old, Irfan Pathan, was named ICC Emerging Player of the Year at the ICC Awards in London at the end of last year. A fitting description for the left arm swing bowler who will be playing county cricket for the first time with Middlesex in 2005. Pathan came up through the ranks in the Indian cricket system having played for both the A side and various age groups. He spent considerable time in the Indian under-19 team and also attended the MRF Indian Cricket Academy. Irfan has already played in 13 Tests and 29 ODIs for India since making his debut against Australia in 2003. He has also been named in the initial squad for the Super Series in Australia during October.

He possesses a potent outswinger and is adept at reversing the ball. These skills allied with an ability to bowl for long spells meant he played a big part in India's one-day and Test series wins in Pakistan in 2004. With a highest First Class score of 61* Irfan is also a useful batsman. Pathan is at least the third Indian Cricketer to represent Middlesex, after R.S.Cooper made eight appearances between 1949 and 1951 and A.B.Agarkar made three appearances in 2004. Pathan played for Middlesex for 8 weeks in June and July 2005 as a temporary replacement for the injured Nantie Hayward, but has now returned to India.

Kumble born on October 17, 1970 in Bangalore, India. He is one of the most feared leg-spinners in the world when he gets his length. On February 7th 1999 Against arch-rivals Pakistan in the second Test at Delhi, he took all the 10 wickets at a cost of 74 runs. He has taken more than 200 wickets in both one-day and Test cricket. Kumble is now India's leading wicket taker in Test cricket.

Chris Gayle born on September 21, 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica is a hard-hitting left-handed batsman who can bowl right-arm off spin when called upon. Gayle, who normally opens the innings when he plays for the West Indies, is a destructive batsman who is most effective playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, he established the record for opening partnerships at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo when they [Chris Gayle (175) and Daren Ganga (89)] put on 214 together against Zimbabwe.

Brett Lee born on November 8, 1976 in Wollongong, New South Wales. He is right handed batsman and right arm fast bowler. He is capable of bowling at a speed of 160 km/h. His fastest recorded delievery is 160.8 km/h. He is also an athletic fielder.

Dwayne Bravo born on October 7, 1983 in Trinidad And Tobago is a all-rounder of West India Team. He is a right handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler. He is West India's more reliable one-day bowlers and is capable of maintaining batsman position towards te end of the inning. He made his first class debut for Trinidad And Tobago against Barbados in 2002.

Jacob Oram born on July 28, 1978 in Palmerston North, Manawatu, New Zealand. He is a big striker of a cricket ball and for a big guy he is agile in the field. In 19 Test matches, he has made 1158 Test runs, making him one of 36 New Zealand Test cricketers to have scored 1000 runs. Despite his relatively high career batting average of nearly 45, he usually bats around 6 or 7 for New Zealand, fulfilling the role of all-rounder