Shane Warne has backed the inclusion of South Australian speedster Shaun Tait in Australia's World Cup squad.

Despite expressing surprise fellow Ashes hero Stuart Clark and former Victorian teammate Cameron White were both overlooked, Warne said Tait's explosive pace would be a huge bonus for Australia as they defend their title in the Caribbean from next month.

"Just his explosive pace, his versatility, I think also he's an excellent bowler at the end of the innings," said the recently retired Australian Test great after playing in the pro-am ahead of this week's Jacob's Creek Open golf tournament in Adelaide.

"He can also bowl the power plays or he can take the new rock and bowl at 160kmh and take early wickets.

"I think the key to one-day cricket is taking wickets, and when you've got someone who can bowl that express pace, he can take wickets at any stage of the game.

"And at the end of the innings, even if he goes for a few, he can still take wickets and it could be those crucial ones that can turn a game."

Warne also voiced approval at the selectors punting on all-rounder Andrew Symonds in the 15-man squad, despite concerns he may not recover from injury in time to play the tournament.

On the omission of Clark and all-rounder White,Warne said: "I was a little bit surprised that Stuart Clark and Cameron White were left out.

"I thought Cameron White, in that No.7 sort of spot, is a finisher who can clear the fence, (but also) knock it around so, I was a little bit surprised.

"But I suppose you can't fit everybody in and hopefully the guys who were picked in the squad will do the job."

Despite England departing with the tri-series one-day title after upsetting Australia 2-0 in the finals, Warne did not believe their end of tour success made up for their 5-0 Ashes humiliation.

"It shows that in one-day cricket, anyone can win and the way they fought back shows a bit of character.

"But England will be very, very disappointed with their tour, to lose 5-0. I think it took them a couple of months to win their first game."

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