SYDNEY, Jan 5: Matthew Hayden's World Cup hopes received a big boost on Friday when he was included in Australia's preliminary 30-man squad for the Caribbean tournament in March-April.
Test opener Hayden, 35, who was not a part of Australia's successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign in India in October-November, was also named in the 13-man squad for the tri-nation one-day series against New Zealand and England, starting in Melbourne on January 12.
Hayden and Cameron White replace the retiring Damien Martyn and the injured all-rounder Shane Watson in the 13-man squad.
Defending champions Australia's 30-man squad for the World Cup in the West Indies in March will be cut to 15 before the February 13 deadline, Cricket Australia said.
Squad for tri-series against England and New Zealand:
Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Brad Hogg, Mitchell Johnson and Cameron White.
Provisional World Cup squad:
Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Brad Haddin, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Marcus North, Daniel Cullen, Shaun Tait, Nathan Hauritz, Shane Harwood, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Andrew McDonald, Brad Hodge, Mark Cosgrove, Ben Hilfenhaus, Travis Birt, Shaun Marsh and Cameron White. —Agencies