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Defending champions Australia will take injured all-rounder Andrew Symonds and unpredictable paceman Shaun Tait to next month’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) and leave Ashes bowling hero Stuart Clark at home.

Selectors also found room in the 15-man squad for back-up wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, with Adam Gilchrist gaining permission to travel three days later than the rest of the squad as his wife is expecting their third child.

Leg-spinner Cameron White was also overlooked for the Caribbean with selectors relying on wrist-spinner Brad Hogg, complemented by spin part-timers Michael Clarke and Symonds.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said Tait was preferred to Clark, believing the South Australian slinger was a more attacking option.

Just over a month ago Clark finished Australia’s leading bowler in the 5-0 Ashes Test series win over England with 26 wickets at 17.03.

Symonds’s inclusion comes in spite of the match-winning all-rounder recuperating from surgery last week on a torn bicep tendon.

Symonds, whose absence was sorely missed as Australia crashed to a stunning 2-0 loss to England in last weekend’s tri-series finals, said he expects to play a role in the World Cup. Hilditch said Gilchrist was expected to be available for Australia’s warm-up games against Zimbabwe on March 6 and England on March 9.

Haddin was rewarded for his dominance in interstate cricket, adding versatility to the squad by being Gilchrist’s back-up.

Australia World Cup squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson.
Source:The News