The ICC Champions Trophy tournament, very frankly, is something of a freak. Alone among the cricket events, it remains unconquered by the behemoth of world cricket, Australia. There is much moaning about the amount of international cricket, there is much debate about the relevance of the Champions Trophy in a calendar crammed with one-day fixtures. So, do the Australians really want it?

Do kangaroos hop? Is Nicole Kidman a star? Does the sun rise in the east?

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ALL FOR ONE: The teams at the ICC Awards

Nuff said. The Aussies don't play cricket because it is a great game of bat, ball and chivalry; they play because they intend to win. The question that needs an answer is-can they be stopped? More to the point, can the Indians stop them?

Not so many months ago, Sourav Ganguly's India could claim to be the second-best team in the world, the most worthy opponents to the Australians. Even Brian Lara, who was touring South Africa at the time, turned India's Test tour Down Under into a nostalgic memory, "I didn't sleep too much on that tour. I was awake all night watching the Indians play-it was great watching them give it back."

But the evidence of the new season just begun tells another tale. Before the Champions Trophy India won four matches out of 11 played in the season, two of those being against lightweights UAE and Bangladesh. The dominance and consistency needed to become a genuine contender for the No.1 spot have thus far been missing in action.

But the beauty of the Champions Trophy lies in how it gives everyone a chance. Four victories in a row seal the silverware but every match matters. The Champions Trophy singles out the sharpest team in the world, one that hits the ground running. More often than not, surprises have been par for the course with new talents dealing bold blows. Remember Yuvraj Singh in 2000?

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IRFAN PATHAN India Can be the catalyst for the Indians to win back lost ground at the start of the season.	RICKY PONTING Australia As captain, looking to capture the one title that has eluded his world champ team.	A. FLINTOFF England The talismanic all-rounder has the powers to take the hosts all the way.	SHOAIB MALIK England The talismanic all-rounder has the powers to take the hosts all the way.

For India and the world, the Champions Trophy will serve to establish a new world order. New Zealand would like to put the seal on their recent run of form, undefeated after nine matches. Sri Lanka have won 11 in a row but all wins were at home.

If you went into a funk when India lost four in a row, spare a thought for the South African fan. Graeme Smith's men have not tasted victory since February this year, losing 10 on the trot. It is a heavy fall for a team that once fashioned one-day cricket in its own image. For the first time in decades, the home team, England has found a talisman in Andrew Flintoff, who promises to rekindle their love for the short game after Test success. Pakistan have looked dangerous and organised, a rare combination for them. Earlier this summer, even as their Test game was going to pieces, the West Indies had enough in the one-day game to put England out of the NatWest final. Much is cooking in the cauldron of world cricket. Any minute now, the unexpected will begin to stir.

THE FORM GUIDE    How teams have fared in their last 10 ODIs

WON LOST Success % Odds Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4 Australia 7 2 78 6-4