Cricketing background: Trevor is New Zealand-born and has had a love affair with cricket since he can remember, writing for newspapers and press agencies in New Zealand, England, Australia and South Africa since 1957; he has been employed since 1975 as senior cricket writer of the Pretoria News, in South Africa. Has one published work, 'Cricket Captains of South Africa: from Melville to Wessles' with Jackie McGlew and is now working on biography of former South Africa Test fast bowler Fanie de Villiers. In his school days was a leg-spinner and played for Central Districts colts in NZ and invited to NZ Colts trials 1955; also a first class umpire in South Africa and minor provincial matches in NZ.

Prediction: I think that South Africa and Pakistan will compete in the final, New Zealand can surprise by reaching the semi-finals. South Africa’s record since losing the triangular tournament in England last year has been a shade of pale short of spectacular; quality all-rounders supported by excellent fielding have engineered the sort of balance coach Bob Woolmer and the captain, Hansie Cronje, have sought since the 1996 campaign ended in the quarter-finals. It did not come easy, but the hard work since March 11 1996, when they lost to the West Indies has made them more competitive and they have learnt to handle pressure and come back strongly.

Despite Pakistan’s often erratic form they can not be dismissed lightly and have learnt to bond together under Wasim Akram’s observant and custom designed leadership to suit their needs. Their one problem area is fielding where they have a couple of liabilities: Inzamam-ul-Haq being one of them. On a good day they would shock the Australians.

Cricketing background: Colin was a member of the West Indies side of the late 70s and early 80s, arguably the greatest cricket side ever. He was a fearsome fast bowler in his day and played in 27 Test matches taking 125 wickets at 23.3 a piece. As a commentator and journalist Colin is famously frank and forthright, and television viewers worldwide will enjoy his candid exchanges with fellow commentator Geoff Boycott during this World Cup. Colin writes for the London Sunday Telegraph; South Africa's SportsDay; The Independent Newspaper group of South Africa; The Stabroek News of Guyana; The Trinidad & Tobago Independent Newspapers; Wisden Cricket Monthly; South African Cricket Action Magazine, plus, of course, CricInfo.

Predictions: Predicting a winner of the 1999 Cricket World Cup is very difficult indeed.

England and New Zealand have an advantage because they are somewhat accustomed to the weather conditions. Pakistan, Australia and South Africa have teams which have the best talent around. The West Indies and India have confidence gained in their last international encounters to bring with them. Zimbabwe is on the way up. Sri Lanka should do their best to defend their crown. Scotland, Bangladesh and Kenya are "spoilers" waiting to upset some "big fish" as Kenya upset the West Indies last time around. I can even predict that there will be two, yes two, major upsets in this competition from the "minnows".

In my sometimes confused mind, the final four could be (1) Pakistan, (2) South Africa, (3) England, Australia or New Zealand and (4) India or West Indies. That is sitting on the fence, so I will go for a Pakistan v South Africa final, unless they meet in the semi-final, with perhaps Pakistan winning, but please do not hold me to that. Pakistan has tried and tested talent. South Africa has the cohesiveness and that most important quality, the fact that none of their players considers himself any better than the rest of the team. In their eyes, they are all equal. If one of South Africa or Pakistan beat the other in the semis, then my winner will be Australia or, for a dark, sleeping giant, (sorry about the pun), West Indies.

The player of the series could be, in this order, Michael Bevan, Shaun Pollock or Jacques Kallis. Bevan is the single most underrated player in the world, despite the fact that he averages about 60.00 runs per One Day International innings. Pollock and Kallis have the tenacity and determination of winners.

Cricket Experience: John is a specialist online sports writer, who has written for The Times, Virgin Net and CricInfo, as well as most of the major English cricket magazines including Wisden Cricket Monthly, Cricket World Monthly, Inside Edge and Johnny Miller 96* and he has also worked as a cricket reporter for the Western Daily Press group. On most weekends during the summer he can be found playing for The Times on Saturdays and his local club side, the Fox & Hounds UCC on Sundays. He still entertains pretensions of being a bowling all-rounder, combining reasonably nippy medium fast away swing with a solid (or should that be stodgy?) defensive opening batting technique. His aggregate of one Royal duck, one Golden duck and a mammoth 2 in his first three innings of this season, would suggest he's fooling no-one.

Predictions:

1. Australia
2. Pakistan
3. South Africa

Cricket experience: John is Zimbabwe's leading cricket reporter - hardly surprising as he is the country's only specialist cricket reporter. John played Saturday club cricket during the seventies and eighties, mainly as a dogged opening batsman who felt that his abilities as a medium-pace swing bowler or ultra-slow leg-spinner were grossly neglected.

Predictions:

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. Zimbabwe