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Shane Warne's omission from Australia's team for the final Test in the West Indies gave him a ``gee-up''. ``It made me think about how much I wanted to continue playing international cricket,'' he said.

Warne, speaking at Cardiff Castle where the Australians' press conference launched their World Cup challenge, said: ``I didn't think I was bowling badly, but we had just lost two Tests and changes had to be made.''

The leg spinner responded by taking 13 wickets at 19.54 apiece in the seven-match one-day series which followed the Tests and, conceding runs at barely four per over, had a big part in helping Australia to draw the series 3-3 with one match tied.

``I was very happy and excited with my form in those games,'' he said. ``I don't think I've every bowled better in one-day matches. It would be great if I could continue in that vein and help Australia to do well here.''

A complex shoulder operation kept Warne out of the game for 10 months. He made a tentative return to Test cricket against England at Sydney in January but was overshadowed by fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

Warne has met with great success in England - he has taken 58 wickets in 12 Tests over here, causing batsmen all sorts of problems - but he says that bowling leg-spin in English conditions has its problems.

``I don't really mind where I bowl,'' Warne said, ``but the pitches here aren't fast and bouncy, so you have to use variations of pace and flight to defeat batsmen. You don't want to get too predict- able.''

The Australians were relaxed and confident. Captain Steve Waugh, who, with Tom Moody and coach Geoff Marsh, was in the 1987 World Cup-winning party, said: ``I consider this to be the best balanced Australian one-day side I've played in.''

Waugh discounted fears that his team might be weary, coming to the World Cup after a particularly demanding tour of the West Indies. ``We're physically and mentally prepared,'' he said, ``and we have a good chance.''