Hauritz excited by call, but Doherty 'shafted'

Nathan Hauritz was relieved to learn of his World Cup selection after being left on the outer for the duration of the Ashes. Hauritz is the sole specialist spinner in the 15-man outfit after the selectors overlooked Xavier Doherty, the left-arm orthodox from Tasmania.

"There were still thoughts in the back of my head that it might not happen," Hauritz said at the SCG. That's because it has been an incredibly bumpy summer for Hauritz.

He was Australia's Test spinner in India but was overlooked for the Ashes, despite being the most successful slow bowler since Shane Warne retired in 2007. "It's definitely a great deal of relief to be selected," he said. "Generally it's not good news but the last week it has been good news from the selectors. It's a like a phone call you get from your mother, sometimes it's bad news, sometimes it's good."

Hauritz is now happy in his role as the only specialist, but he will be supported by Steven Smith, David Hussey and possibly Michael Clarke at the tournament starting next month. "Obviously it was disappointing not to be part of that Ashes but it's fantastic to be part of the World Cup squad," he said. "I'm extremely excited."

This time it is Doherty's turn to feel the pain after his card was marked when he went wicket-less in Sunday's ODI win over England. It was his third ODI, with all four of his breakthroughs coming on debut against Sri Lanka. Last month he was dropped after being ineffective in his opening two Ashes Tests.

George Bailey, the Tasmania captain, said Doherty had been Australia's best one-day spinner on the domestic circuit for the past two or three years. "He's obviously performed really well in the few chances he's had with Australia, and then he's just basically shafted," Bailey told AAP.

Bailey pointed the finger at selectors for sending "mixed messages" over how Doherty should be bowling. "Then when he's told he's not in the team, he's given very little direction to come back for us," he said. "And this is not just Xavier, but I think all players that are dropped out of that Australian squad. I think communication from the top to players coming back is pretty ordinary."