Barely two weeks after the Indian Premier League left South Africans in a cloud of dust, pom-poms, and fading cries of "It?s another DLF maximum!" Twenty20 junkies will be able to get another fix of explosive cricket action.

The ICC World Twenty20 kicks off in England this Friday, bringing the world?s best cricketers together to battle it out for the crown.

The tournament consists of twelve teams divided into four groups. Group A consists of Bangladesh, India and Ireland, Group B consists of England, the Netherlands and Pakistan, Group C pits Australia against Sri Lanka and the West Indies, and Group D sees the South Africans take on New Zealand and Scotland.

After the initial round-robin tournament, the top two teams from each group go through to the Super Eight, where they battle it out for a place in the semifinals and eventually the finals.

So who has what it takes? Will India be able to hold off the challenge and secure the title for a second year? Will South Africa?s huge-hitters carry the team into the knockout stages?

And can hosts England make a bigger impression than the 2007 tournament, where they only managed to win one match?

We dismantle the teams to find out.

Australia

The majority of the Aussie squad sat out the IPL to concentrate on the Ashes, but should not be underestimated. And they do have that annoying habit of pulling it out the bag when it counts.

All-rounder Andrew Symonds will be all the more dangerous for being overlooked for the Ashes, and will be a crucial part of Ricky Ponting?s squad.

Brett Lee has recovered from his niggling injury problems and will be raring to go, and Nathan Bracken brings some valuable experience to the side.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh?s record since the 2007 tournament when they dumped the West Indies unceremoniously out of the tournament in the group stages has been disastrous. They have lost all but three of their games in all forms of the game.

But the Tigers do have truckloads of self-belief, and they managed to make a formidable Australia side fidget in the warm-up games.

It?s Twenty20, and anything can happen. So don?t write off this team just yet. They will be vying with Ireland for a spot in the Super 8, and it will be a case of who wants it more.

England

England had a pretty ratty run against India at the end of last year and in the Test series against the Windies, but they seem to have found their stride again, despite losing star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

But Kevin Pietersen, who was lukewarm at best in the IPL and has struggled to shake off an Achilles injury, managed to bag a classy half-century in the warm-up game against Scotland.

India

Since the 2007 tournament, India have undergone massive reconstructive surgery.

Out went the elder generation, replaced by a set of youngsters guided by Mahendra Dhoni. The IPL revealed some of the most explosive batsmen in the world with veteran Virender Sehwag being kept on his toes by the likes of Rohit Sharma and co.

The bowling department is equally dangerous with Left-armer RP Singh the IPL's leading wicket-taker and winner of the Purple Cap, combining with the steel of Zaheer Khan and the all-out pace of Ishant Sharma.

Ireland

Although still a minnow, Ireland have the ability to exceed expectations - just ask Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup.

Only having played three Twenty20 games ? which they won ? most of Ireland?s progress will depend on those players with county experience. The Irish could squeak through to the Super 8 if Bangladesh fail to deliver.

Netherlands

Australian-born Dirk Nannes is undoubtedly the star of this show. The Victoria and Delhi Daredevils fast-bowler was ranked ninth at the end of the IPL and bagged 15 wickets in his 13 games.

However, Nanes is not the only player with vast Twenty20 experience. South African-born all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, Bas Zuiderent and Dan van Bunge have all played county cricket, with ten Doeschate a renowned big-hitter.

New Zealand

This is the team that India consider the biggest challenge to their Twenty20 crown ? and it?s no wonder. The Kiwis are in superb form this year having twice beaten world champions India, and narrowly missing out against Australia.

Brendon McCullum can win matches with his explosive shot-making, while Jesse Ryder has the ability to match McCullum?s power, and that spells trouble for opposition bowlers.

Combined with the guile of their bowling department, the Black Caps will be a force to be reckoned with if they can keep their cool.

Pakistan:

Pakistan has pretty much fallen off the grid after the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team earlier this year. They have lost tournaments, and more importantly, any touring teams.

The ever-classy Younus Khan provides a counterpoint to the bigger hitters of the Pakistan side, and Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir are still one of the most potent bowling duos in world cricket.

Pakistan lost controversial fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar to a nasty... erm? ?skin infection?, and replaced him with medium-pacer Rao Iftikhar.

Scotland

Most of this squad has some experience with the short-form of the game after having travelled to South Africa in 2007.

However, experienced seam-bowler John Blain stormed out of the training camp after a row with skipper Hamilton, leading to Calum MacLeod being called up as a late replacement.

With Scotland being grouped with New Zealand and Australia, chance of progression is very slim, and hopes will not be too high for the Scots.

South Africa

South Africa?s advantage lies in their versatility.

Jam-packed with all-rounders such as Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers and to a lesser-extent Roelof van der Merwe, as well as a classy batting line-up and blistering pace attack, the Proteas go in as favourites in our book.

Sri Lanka

Fast-bowler Lasith Malinga is coming off an impressive spell in the IPL. Malinga, who was ranked as fifth in the bowling standings, managed to take 18 wickets in his 13 games.

Also in the squad is rookie all-rounder Isuru Udana, whose coach reckons will be ?the next Chaminda Vaas?. Ironically, Vaas failed to make the squad.

At 39, Sanath Jayasuriya is still the terror of opening bowlers everywhere and has hopefully recovered some of the form he struggled with in the IPL.

Newly-named skipper Kumar Sangakkara has a whole host of bowling options, led by veteran Muttiah Muralitharan. Combined with Ajantha Mendis, the spin duo has the ability to dry up runs which will be a massive advantage for the Sri Lankans.

West Indies

Chris Gayle has said he prefers the Twenty20 form of the game ? and we?ll see why. The restless skipper has the ability to win matches almost single-handedly ? but unfortunately the rest of his team may rely on that skill.

Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher and Kieron Pollard all have the ability to knock the ball out the park, but the rest of the order is a bit thin.

Lack of a strong bowling attack remains a problem for the Windies, Darren Sammy, Fidel Edwards and Sulieman Benn are the best of the bunch.