Take Tait to West Indies - Thomson

While Jeff Thomson wants Shaun Tait to be on the plane to the World Cup, Tait is not convinced he will make the squad. Tait was added to the one-day outfit on Monday for the final two preliminary games after the Australia selectors decided to see if he was ready for a trip to the Caribbean.

The elevation caught Tait by surprise and he knew it would be difficult to earn a place in the talent-stocked squad of 15 for the World Cup. "It depends on how many fast bowlers they take," he told AAP. "If they take five quicks they've got their quicks there - Lee, Clark, Bracken, Johnson, McGrath. It's still going to be hard to get a spot there, but you never know.

"I didn't realise I would get a call-up to the squad now, so you never say never." Australia are heaving with bowling options but the attack struggled against New Zealand on Sunday night, when the tourists reached 335 in their pursuit of Australia's 343.

However, Thomson said Tait, who has never played an ODI, deserved to be part of the squad after recovering from a hamstring problem. "I know he's been injured but it's about time he's back," Thomson said in the Courier-Mail. "I like his selection and with his pace he can offer them something different in the West Indies. He's a wicket-taker and I reckon he'll go well."