NAGPUR:  With 28 league games completed, we are exactly two-thirds into the World Cup qualifying stages. We take a look here at how the nine test-playing nations are shaping up, primarily on their tournament form displayed so far (see also notes below).

Terms:Economy or run rate = Runs per overAverage = Runs per dismissalStrike rate (batting) = Runs per 100 ballsStrike rate (bowling) = Balls per wicket

AustraliaStrengths:Batting: Preserving wickets (average of 52.1 runs per dismissal and 182.0 runs per dismissal during powerplays)High run rate overall (5.6 runs per over)Bowling: 4.2 runs per over and 16.7 balls per wicket in powerplaysFast bowling: 3.9 runs per over and 22.8 balls per wicketHighest number of catches per innings: 5

Weaknesses:5.2 runs per over scored during powerplaysBowling: 32.4 balls per wicketSpin bowling: 85.7 balls per wicket - -

BangladeshStrengths:First (mandatory) powerplay: 5.8 runs per overOnly 6% of runs conceded as extras

Weaknesses:Batting: average opening partnership (43.0 runs per dismissal); poor run rate overall (4.6)Powerplay while batting: Poor runs per dismissal (21.9); poor run rate (5.4)Powerplay while bowling: Poor average (42.9 runs per wicket); poor economy (5.3)Most number of run outs so far (5)Bowling: Poor strike rate (37.7 balls per wicket); poor economy (5.3)Fast bowling: Poor economy (5.6) and strike rate (40.9)Spin bowling: Poor economy (5.0)

EnglandStrengths:Openers: Good strike rate (97.6)Only 1 run out conceded so far

Weaknesses:Lower middle order: Poor average (10.8)Losing too many wickets during the batting (third) powerplay (13.2 runs per dismissal) with poor run rate (6.40)Bowling: Poor economy (5.5); poor strike rate (36.0)Powerplay while bowling: Poor economy (5.7)Fast bowling: Poor economy (5.5) and strike rate (37.3)Backup bowlers: Poor economy (5.1), average (184.0) and strike rate (216.0)Extras: Highly profligate (98 runs) with the highest extras (33) in any innings twice

IndiaStrengths:Batting: High run rate (6.1); high average runs per dismissal (46.2), High openers' strike rate (112.0)High powerplay run rate (6.2)Strike rate: Fast bowlers (22.3); backup bowlers (42.8)Fielding: Catches (16) and run outs (4)

Weaknesses:Bowling: Poor economy (5.2) and average (27.5)Poor powerplay economy rate (5.5)Spin bowling: Poor economy (5.0), average (55.5) and strike rate (67.0)High number of run outs conceded (4)

New ZealandStrengths:Openers: High average runs per dismissal (79.0); high partnership average (66.5)No run outs conceded so farBowling: Very good average (19.1) and strike rate (26.5), powered by fast bowling and backup bowlersBest spin bowling economy (2.3)

Weaknesses:Middle order: Poor average (33.6)Poor spin bowling strike rate (90.0)High percentage of extras conceded (9.4%) - -

PakistanStrengths:Lower middle order: High average (28.0) and strike rate (94.2)Spin bowling: Good economy (4.1) and average (16.7)

Weaknesses:Batting: Poor average (28.5) and run rate (5.3)Openers: Poor average score each (11.6), strike rate (62.4) and partnership average (15 runs)Middle order: Poor strike rate (74.6)Powerplay while batting: Poor average runs per dismissal (27.3)Powerplay while bowling: Poor average runs per wicket taken (28.4)Backup bowlers: Poor economy (5.1) and strike rate (57.0)High extras as a percentage of runs scored (11%)Low number of catches per innings (2.3)

South AfricaStrengths:Middle order: Good average (60.7) and strike rate (93.1)Overall bowling: Good economy (4.0) and strike rate (25.6), especially during powerplaysFast bowling: Very economical (3.7)Spin bowling: Good strike rate (19.2)High number of catches (4.7) per innings

Weaknesses:Openers: Poor opening stand average (43.0) and strike rate (73.8)Poor run rate while batting (5.3), especially during powerplays (5.2)Poor fast bowler strike rate (36.4)

Sri LankaStrengths:Batting: Good run rate (6.0) and average (46.8) from openers, middle order and lower middle order#Powerplay while batting: Good run rate (6.4), predominantly due to mandatory powerplaySpin bowling: Good economy (3.8), average (13.6) and strike rate (21.3)Backup bowling: High average (19.1) and strike rate (27.8)

Weaknesses:Economy rate of fast bowlers (4.8)

West IndiesStrengths:High middle order strike rate (101.4)Powerplay while batting: Good run rate (5.7)Bowling: Good average of runs per wicket (19.0) and strike rate (26.0), led by powerplay bowlingFast bowlers: Good economy (4.1) and average (15.6)Spinners: Good strike rate (23.4)Least extras conceded as a percentage of runs scored (3.7%)

Weaknesses:Batting: Poor average (30.6), due to lower middle order (9.7)Backup bowling: Poor strike rate (137.2) and average (102.0)

Notes:

* Batting performance has been classified into openers, middle order (numbers 3, 4 and 5) and lower middle order (6, 7, 8) and performance during the powerplays have also been taken into account.

* Bowling performance has been classified into how the fast bowlers, spinners and backup bowlers have performed, again taking powerplays into account.

* The analysis is based on a relative comparison of the batting, bowling and fielding performance by the teams as compared to other test-playing nations.