Shane Watson was Australia's top allrounder leading into the World Cup, but Trevor Hohns, the chief of selectors, wants Andrew Symonds to put the pressure on him for his place. After selecting Watson and Symonds as the two allrounders in Australia's World Cup squad, Hohns said: "Watson has been our number one allrounder for the past 12 months, but it is up to Andrew Symonds to put a little bit of pressure on him - it's also up to Shane Watson to continue to perform."

While admitting that the selection of Symonds could be a gamble, given his poor batting form, Hohns said the selectors believed Symonds was a potential matchwinner. "Andrew's played a fair bit of one-day cricket for Australia now and we see him as offering the entire package. He can bowl offspin, he can bowl medium pace, he's a wonderful fieldsman and potentially he's a matchwinning batsman."

Symonds was stunned to hear he got into the final squad when informed on Tuesday. "I'm numb, to be honest with you. I'm delighted, but by the same time when we were told in the group, geez, it's hard on a lot of blokes. Only being able to take 15 and Australian cricket's got so much to offer, I really do feel for other blokes."

The last of Symonds' 49 limited-overs matches for Australia was against Kenya in September, as a replacement for an injured Darren Lehmann.

Hohns said Shane Warne, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, would be replaced in the squad if he was not fully fit by the time the team left for Johannesburg on January 30.

"Warne's situation is a little bit different. If he doesn't happen to come up for the start of the World Cup or prior to the team leaving, it is my understanding that we can replace him from outside of the [preliminary squad of] 30, or with anybody we like."

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