Tait backs Australia's pace attack as world's best

Shaun Tait believes Australia's World Cup pace attack is the best in the world as they aim for a fourth title in a row. There is no lack of speed in the 15-man squad with Tait joined by Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger as the selectors take an aggressive route to the subcontinent.

It is a major gamble because Tait, Lee and Johnson can all prove expensive but they also have the ability to make significant inroads. In the 2007 tournament, Tait was a success as a shock bowler with 23 wickets, but was able to feed off the pressure built up by Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken. "We've all had a fair bit of experience and if you put that pace attack up against any in the world and I think it comes out No. 1," Tait said. "The selectors should be pretty happy with what they have."

Out of the four fast bowlers Tait will be used in the shortest, sharpest, spells mainly because his of his fragile body. He missed the first one-day international against England due to a back strain but he is unconcerned and is ready to take his place at Hobart on Friday in the best shape of his life.

"I'm at full fitness apart from the back complaint a few days ago," he said. "Obviously they will manage the fast bowlers through the rest of the series and probably the World Cup as well which is the done thing these days. It's probably the fittest I've been. I worked hard during the three months I was injured. At the end of the day you can be as fit as you like, but it is performances out on the field that count."

Despite the strain on his body when bowling in excess of 150kph, Tait won't be holding back against England or during the World Cup. "The reason I get selected is because of my pace and there's no substitute for me. I'm not going to hold back and try and put the ball in the right areas," he said. "I'm there to bowl fast and take wickets which is what I'll try to do."

The subcontinent used to be a graveyard for fast bowlers but that has changed in recent years, especially in India, with some lively wickets being produced. Finding swing with the old ball will be a key weapon during the tournament and Tait is looking forward to the challenge.

"In those conditions reverse swing will be a factor and all four of us can bowl that," Tait said. "You never know, though, in India because some of the wickets they produce can go through pretty quickly. Fast bowling isn't that bad over there, that's for sure."

Australia remain the No. 1 one-day team in the world but are not favourites for this year's tournament after a difficult year which has seen them lose to England, India and Sri Lanka in 50-over cricket. However, this current group of players are taking it as a major motivation to continue Australia's World Cup domination without some of the great names of the past.

"We had a team full of legends to be fair and it's a little different this time," Tait said. "When you lose so many great players over a couple of years it's a big hole to fill. Australian cricket is slowly trying to do that, but there's still plenty of experience there."

Form suggests that Australia will struggle to make it four in a row, but the squad they have selected means they aren't going to let their title go quietly.