While he gets a taste of the Australian team there was, as anticipated, no place in the World Cup squad for Ryan Harris, who returned this summer to play three of four Tests against India after a lengthy absence following knee surgery. National selector Rod Marsh said the Ashes had been made his priority. "Ryan's 35 and just between all of us here we would really like to see Ryan go to England, bowl his heart out in Test cricket and keep those Ashes," Marsh said.

"He's that important to the team in Test match cricket. I know there's nothing bigger than the World Cup but maybe international one-day cricket he's had his time there. When I went to speak to him [on Saturday] night to tell him he wasn't in the team I said 'Ryno' and he said 'don't worry mate, I know'. I think he would have loved to be in the side but I think he also realises he would have struggled."

The selection announcement also confirmed the snubbing of Australia's Test spinner Nathan Lyon for the World Cup. Lyon claimed 23 wickets in the series against India to be comfortably the leading wicket-taker on either side, but couldn't get a start for the one-day showpiece. Marsh explained they had gone with left-armer Xavier Doherty to complement the off-spin of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, but also indicated he didn't believe Lyon was suited to the limited-overs format.

"Xavier is a proven one-day bowler," Marsh said. "We know exactly what we're going to get with Xavier, we've got one guy in the squad who spins the ball into the right handers we need a guy who is going to take the ball away from the right handers. That's where Michael [Clarke] comes in as well because he's another option there, as is Steven Smith. But having said that it's a little bit different these days because there's only four men outside the circle and it makes it a little bit more difficult I think for some spinners and I'll leave it at that."