Confusion abounds player replacements for World Cup

MELBOURNE, Dec 17 AAP - Some confusion remains about the rules governing squad changes during cricket's World Cup.

Australian cricket suddenly has great interest in those rules, after Shane Warne's shoulder dislocation last Sunday night.

The International Cricket Council confirmed overnight that Australia could pick Warne in its final squad of 15, but replace him even during the tournament.

The next question is to whether Australia could go outside the initial squad of 30, named at the start of this month, if it had to replace Warne.

Fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and Test captain Steve Waugh are among those who did not make the 30-man squad.

"Our understanding is there's flexibility in that, certainly there was flexibility in that (at) the previous World Cup and we don't see that's changed," said ACB chief executive James Sutherland.

"I don't think it's entirely clear, all of those little issues."

But the good news for the Australian selectors is they can pick Warne and even rest him during the early stages of the Cup tournament, which starts next February.

That will give Warne as much time as possible to return to full fitness.

"The allowance within that, with injuries, is that a player can pull out at any stage after December 31, even after the tournament has started," Sutherland said.

"They can be replaced, subject to confirmation by medical authorities that it's a genuine injury."