The Champions Trophy Starts tomorrow and will be carried live here in the states over on ESPN3. I must admit, I am kind of excited.

If you missed it on Twitter, here is a link to ESPN3’s official press release regarding their coverage. You can also go check out my cricket viewing guide for the full schedule.

My prediction is as follows:

#ct13 prediction: NZ and ENG advance from group A, PAK and SA advance from group B. Then SA over NZ in the final. #youhearditherefirst

— Matt Becker (@limitedovers) June 3, 2013

And for a proper preview, I turn the site over to occasional guest writer, JP Daughtery:

ICC Champions Trophy Preview 2013

Group A

England

The hosts of the tournament, usually good in their home conditions but they just lost a home series to New Zealand.

Captain: Alastair Cook
Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler/Jonny Bairstow
Best batsman: Alastair Cook; England’s captain has had a prolific last couple of years, especially in Test cricket, where he recently became England’s all-time leading century-maker. Can he transfer that form into the 50-over game?
Best bowler: James Anderson; One of the best classical swing bowlers in the world. Uses his great gift of being able to swing the ball late to pick up early wickets with the new ball.
X-Factor: Eoin Morgan; Morgan’s outrageously inventive stroke play has earned him a reputation as one of the best finishers in world cricket. Is possibly the only player in world cricket to play more ‘reverse’ shots than conventional shots.

Australia

Always one of the favorites, even though they are in a rebuilding phase and just got bowled out for 65.

Captain: Michael Clarke
Wicketkeeper: Matthew Wade
Best batsman: Michael Clarke; The Australian captain had the year of his life last year, scoring two double centuries against South Africa. Can he lead the Aussies to Champions Trophy 3-peat?
Best bowler: Mitchell Starc; The young Starc has wowed people the world over with his pace and bounce, and his ability to not be erratic like that other Mitchell. Expect the English conditions to be to his liking.
X-Factor: David Warner; This dynamite opener can give Australia a fast start, although he has not been in the best of form lately. Can he deliver when Australia needs him most?

Sri Lanka

A young and exciting team, bolstered with some veterans who are legends of the game.

Captain: Angelo Mathews
Wicketkeeper: Kumar Sangakkara
Best batsman: Mahela Jayawardene; A classical batsmen, uses more of placement than power in his shots. One of the few players to get 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs.
Best bowler: Lasith Malinga; ‘The Slinga’ had a relatively quiet IPL season until the final, when he demolished the Chennai top order. Expect him to be confident after that performance.
X-Factor: Dinesh Chandimal; This exciting young prospect is one of the new stars of the Sri Lankan batting order. He will be expected to play a big role, probably batting at number 3.

New Zealand

On a hot streak entering this Champions Trophy, having just beaten England in an ODI series.

Captain: Brendon McCullum
Wicketkeeper: Luke Ronchi
Best batsman: Martin Guptill; One of New Zealand’s brightest talents, he just made a scintillating match-winning 189 against England.
Best bowler: Tim Southee; One of the most underrated bowlers in world cricket, expect him to be near the top of the wickets chart in helpful English conditions.
X-Factor: Brendon McCullum; One of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket, especially towards the end. Has terrific six-hitting ability.

Group B

South Africa

The favorites for the tournament, can they finally win a major trophy?

Captain/Wicketkeeper: AB de Villiers
Best batsman: Hashim Amla; Possibly the best batsman in world cricket at the moment. Uses exceptional touch in order to find the gaps and plays with an elegance matched only by a late 90s-early 2000s Tendulkar or Laxman.
Best bowler: Dale Steyn*; The best fast bowler in world cricket is ably supported by his partner in crime, Morné Morkel. Uses overwhelming speed and late swing to defeat batsmen.
X-Factor: David Miller; Stole the show in the IPL with some eye-catching displays of power, including a 38-ball 101.

*Editor’s noted: story was filed before Steyn’s injury was reported.

India

It is unknown how the world’s most supported team will fare after news of the spot-fixing scandal. Based in the evidence from the warm-up games, they will go far.

Captain/Wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni
Best batsman: MS Dhoni; Dhoni is quickly becoming the best ODI finisher of all-time, and with good reason. He uses his supple wrists to create incredible bat speed to hit sixes. Example: 2011 World Cup Final, over 48.2.
Best bowler: Umesh Yadav; Umesh is back in international cricket after recovering from a stress fracture in his back. Uses his good pace and seam movement to get wickets.
X-Factor: Dinesh Karthik; Karthik was Mumbai’s best batsmen during the IPL and has shown great form in the warm-up matches. Expect him to have a great tournament.

Pakistan

The most unpredictable team in world cricket. One day they tie Ireland, the next they beat South Africa. You never know quite what you’re going to get.

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq
Wicketkeeper: Kamran Akmal
Best batsman: Mohammad Hafeez; Hafeez has been Pakistan’s most consistent performer over the past few years. Expect him to be the anchor against the two new balls.
Best bowler: Saeed Ajmal; The best spinner in world cricket, he possesses both a great off spinner and a well-disguised doosra.
X-Factor: Mohammad Irfan; The 7-foot-1 Irfan is a tough customer to handle as he gets lots of bounce. Expect him to be a handful for opposition openers.

West Indies

The winners of the most recent ICC tournament, the 2012 World T20, they are less comfortable on the ODI stage.

Captain: Dwayne Bravo
Wicketkeeper: Denesh Ramdin
Best batsman: Chris Gayle; The six-hitting behemoth was at his best in the IPL. Can he be a bit more patient in a longer format?
Best bowler: Sunil Narine; On his first visit to England, Narine struggled. He has come back a better bowler than he was and expect him to have success.
X-Factor: Kieron Pollard; This hard-hitting death-over specialist proved his worth in the IPL final, smashing 60 off 32 deliveries. He will hope to replicate that performance and go on to make more runs.

Predictions:

Group A:

1. New Zealand
2. Sri Lanka
3. Australia
4. England

Group B:

1. South Africa
2. India
3. West Indies
4. Pakistan

Semi-finals:

India over New Zealand
South Africa over Sri Lanka

Final:

India over SA.

You read right. Call me crazy, but remember, you heard it here first.