Champion leg-spinner Shane Warne is so important to Australia's World Cup cricket defence that he may be given until mid-tournament to recover from his dislocated shoulder, coach John Buchanan said on Tuesday.
Warne was selected in the final 15-man Australian squad along with all-rounder Andrew Symonds and wrist-spinner Brad Hogg, but there was no place for out-of-favour Steve Waugh.
Buchanan revealed Warne --man-of-the-match in Australia's Cup final victory over Pakistan at Lord's in 1999 -- could be given until the Super Sixes stage to make his first appearance in southern Africa.
Should Australia progress through the preliminary rounds in February before the Super Sixes begin on March 7, Warne's rehabilitation from a dislocated shoulder should be well and truly over.
"We're certainly looking at making a decision (on Warne's fitness) as early as feasible -- but giving him as much time as possible," Buchanan said on Tuesday.
"He's one of the bowlers we will always go to to bowl us ten overs in a one-day game. We're going to try to make sure he gets every opportunity to be on that plane across to South Africa."
Asked if Warne could be given until the Super Sixes, Buchanan said: "That's certainly one of the considerations.
"If he wasn't available from the outset, we would like to think he was playing at least by mid-tournament, that's my view. In a general sense, that's probably a cut-off."
The obvious problem for Warne is waiting too long and being too rusty by the time he gets on the field.
"He'd certainly be wanting to be as confident as he can going into some of the tougher games," Buchanan said.
"That confidence is not just in bowling, but also getting around the field."
Warne expects to be told on January 11 or 12 when he can start bowling again.
"He seems pretty upbeat about it all and likes his chances of playing in the World Cup, so that's great," one-day skipper Ricky Ponting said.
"Obviously Australia needs Shane Warne to be playing and playing well in the World Cup. Everyone's just got their fingers crossed and hopes that he comes up."
Australia will be joined in Pool A by Pakistan, India, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Namibia and England, with the first three sides progressing.
The last of Symonds' 49 limited overs matches for Australia was against Kenya in September -- a tour he made only as a replacement for an injured Darren Lehmann.
Symonds has been below his best recently -- he averages 25.86 with the bat and 30.97 with the ball -but he's an exceptional fieldsman in any position.
"I'm numb, to be honest with you," Symonds said of his selection.
"Only being able to take 15 and Australian cricket's got so much to offer, I really do feel for other blokes."
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Symonds now had the chance to apply pressure to first-choice but younger all-rounder Shane Watson.
The three open positions in the 15-man squad went to Symonds, Queensland batsman Jimmy Maher and West Australian batsman and wrist spinner Brad Hogg, joining Australia's stock 12 players from the opening three tri-series games.
Steve Waugh's faint hopes of earning a place in Australia's World Cup side were dashed when the Test skipper was omitted from the final 15-man squad for the tournament.
Waugh had hoped to force his way back into the team after being controversially left out of the preliminary 30-man squad, a decision which provoked an outcry in Australia.
But Tuesday's announcement signals that selectors believe the 37-year-old's one-day career is over.
Australia depart for South Africa on January 30 and start their World Cup campaign with a match against Pakistan in Johannesburg on February 11.
SQUAD
Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Shane Watson.