India, winner of the third cricket world cup in 1983, are arguably the best equipped team of all the 12 countries to exploit the English conditions, according to a guide to world cup 99 brought out in association with ‘Wisden’.

‘The 1999 Cricket World Cup Essential Stats and Facts’, the book created in association with the England and Wales Cricket Board and ‘Wisden’, says India have three most dangerous bowlers in the world in Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble who can exploit the English conditions that will confront them at cricket's greatest extravaganza.

“They (Indians) arrive on territory familiar for many of their players and possess arguably the best batsman in the world in Sachin Tendulkar and the most prolific current run- getter in the world in Rahul Dravid,” ‘Wisden’ writers Steve Pearce and Bill Day commented in their profiles of the teams.

India, who return to England as a triumphant nation of the last world cup hosted by the British Isles, have been rated 12-1 by the London bookies alongside arch- rival Pakistan, Sri Lanka and strong favourites South Africa.

Besides world’s richest cricketer Tendulkar, the authors say, India have star performers such as Saurav Ganguly and wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia who could be match-winners on their day.

“...And it is difficult to make an argument against India having the firepower to mount their biggest challenge since that June day 16 years ago when Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath bowled out the West Indies cheaply at Lord's to allow their captain Kapil Dev and the country a moment of glory.”

The authors base their assessment on India's successful tour of England in 1996 “...Since new stars Ganguly and Dravid emerged as batsmen of impressive technique and temperament on their first England Test tour. The two new batsmen conquered the peculiar demands of English conditions, where the ball swings and can move alarmingly at times off the seam, as if they were born to the ever changing weather they faced.”

On the bowling front, experienced new ball bowlers Srinath, Prasad, and Kumble are expected to perform better while many-a- time match-winner Ajit Agarkar does not even get a mention in the commentary.

“Srinath and Prasad have impressed in England as one of the best new-ball attacks in the world,” Pearce-Day said. The two bowlers picked up 26 wickets between them in the three-Test series.

“Tendulkar scored 523 runs, more than any other batsman in that tournament, and he prepares for the England challenge determined to show the world that he is the world's master batsman, despite Brian Lara's bid to prove otherwise,” Pearce-Day said.

India can be world-beaters on their day, the authors say but with a little hint of caution: “Unfortunately, cricket history reveals that India have tended to under-achieve when put to the ultimate test.”

They further add that since the lottery of world cup action makes forecasting a precarious occupation, “India's record in Tests and one-day internationals enhances the belief that a punter can soon be parted from his money if he relies on hunch and formbook to second guess the team Mohd Azharuddin leads.”

But they hasten to add: “One- day internationals have become the staple diet of Indian cricket. No country competing at England 99 has more experience of the cut and thrust of this form of cricket, be it in daylight or under floodlight.”

“India have everything in their favour to win the world cup a second time,” the authors conclude but query "can they deliver?”

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