'I can bowl quicker than 160kph' - Tait

Shaun Tait believes he can break the world record for the fastest delivery after hitting the 160kph mark against England on Sunday. Tait, who is still a World Cup chance despite being dropped for the CB Series finals, said it was not the top speed he has reached.

"Last year in Queensland I felt I bowled quicker in a one-dayer and four-dayer," Tait told The Courier-Mail. "I am sure I have something left to break it. It just depends on the day. Some days you come out and you are not feeling quite as good and the conditions don't suit. They say New Zealand and South Africa are the best two countries to break the record because they are at high altitude and the air is a bit thinner. I might have to wait until one of those tours."

Tait said bettering the 161.3kph mark set by Shoaib Akhtar in 2003 was a definite goal for him. "It's very tempting," he said. "People might think it's silly but that's what I do. At the end of the day I try and bowl as fast as I can. That would be a great honor for me to become the fastest bowler of all time.

"It would be fantastic. When I saw the 160kph on the screen I thought I would have a tilt at the record but I didn't have enough left in the tank. I was very excited. Initially I thought it was 150 but when I saw the six I thought 'Oh, my God'."

Tait has been released by the Australia camp for the CB Series finals and will have only one more chance in a Pura Cup match to impress the selectors before the World Cup squad is announced next week. Their decision could come down to choosing either Tait or Stuart Clark, who was also omitted from the team after the tri-series preliminary rounds.

"I would have loved to be in the finals spot, if not playing just running the drinks, but this was going to happen," Tait said. "I was told I was picked for the last two games. The World Cup is out of my control. I know I am good enough if I do get a berth. I would love to go."