ICC Champions Trophy - 10 to watch
Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
A blistering spell of 4-11 against India apart, left-arm pace bowler Johnson has been unable to convert the promise which first caught the attention of the likes of Australia greats Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh. He remains an exciting prospect, though, and if he can stay fit the tall Queenslander can make an impact at the Champions Trophy before setting his sights on a prolonged and successful Test career.
Andrew Symonds (Australia)
Symonds' all-round ability is second to very few in cricket history - as English cricket fans will know from his batting, bowling and fielding exploits with three counties, as well as in Australian colours in the 2005 NatWest Series. Birmingham-born Symonds was never seriously tempted by the prospect of playing for England - and is sure to be a thorn in their side one way or another this winter.
Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa)
India has rarely agreed with Gibbs, and he has fought shy of returning to a country from whom he has never received an assurance he will not be detained, on his belated return, for questioning over the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal. As long as he is allowed to put those concerns behind him, Gibbs - whose outspoken nature has not always helped the situation - can set about settling scores on the pitch with his often breath-taking strokeplay at the top of the innings and his electric fielding.
Lou Vincent (New Zealand)
Vincent announced himself in Test cricket five years ago with a hundred on debut in Perth. Though he has failed to consolidate in the intervening years, if his recent runs at a lower level - regularly getting Worcestershire off to a flier at the top of the order this summer - are any guide, he may be about to prove he is top-class after all. One of the finest fielders in the competition.
Suresh Raina (India)
Raina is another who has already shown England what he can do - and he is still a teenager going into the Champions Trophy on home ground. He displayed great maturity as well as high class with successive half-centuries against Andrew Flintoff's one-day tourists earlier this year. Like so many of his illustrious left-handed predecessors, makes the game look easy when in full flow. Very good already but sure to get even better.
Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
The ‘slinger’ still has the element of surprise on his side. Fast bowler Malinga, who possesses a unique, almost round-arm action, is also capable of unexpected accuracy when on song. England found him a handful during the Test and one-day series this summer, and he could send a few big-name batsmen on their way back before they have worked out what they are up against.
Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)
Ted Dexter, no less, predicted after Sarwan's eye-catching Test debut that he would go on to record a career average of 50 plus. The West Indies vice-captain is currently running a little under that level in five-day cricket but is much closer in the one-day game. If Windies are to be competitive in their own World Cup next spring, cultured batsman Sarwan is one of the men who must lead the way, and there is no better place to warm up for that tournament than the Champions Trophy.
Dwayne Smith (West Indies)
Smith announced himself with a century on Test debut in South Africa two years ago - and followed up with some destructive one-day hitting against England in the Caribbean soon afterwards. He has too often got out going for the biggest shots too early - but if he learns to rein in his attacking instincts just a little, all-rounder Smith is in the same bracket as the likes of Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi when it comes to winning a match in a matter of minutes.
Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe)
Chigumbura is potentially another significant talent among the minnows. More Dwayne Smith than his Bangladesh team-mate Shahriar Nafees, the all-rounder hits emphatically down the ground, possesses pace with the ball and is young enough to be capable of much more, as long as the struggles of his largely outclassed team-mates do not drag him down.
Shahriar Nafees (Bangladesh)
Shahriar is an authentic batsman - and how Bangladesh need someone with his substance to glue the naive strokemakers together. If he sets himself to bat 50 overs in one-day cricket it will be a huge step in the right direction for Test cricket's newest team.
