We’re a month from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and Australia and New Zealand – both surprise losers in the Commonwealth Bank series in Australia – have announced their 15-man squads with a surprise call-up for a forgotten Black Cap and a surprise omission for one of Australia's Ashes heroes.

After two years in exile, Kiwi paceman Daryl Tuffey is a shock call-up for the Caribbean tournament, a major knee injury to Kyle Mills opening the door for the 28-year old paceman from Northern Districts. Tuffey last played in an ODI in February 2005 against Australia but through a combination of injury and a loss of form found himself on the outer of the national squad. Prior to this, Tuffey was starting to develop a solid reputation as an opening bowler with a knack of getting wickets early in an innings and capable of bowling a tight line and length.

Beyond the selection of Tuffey, New Zealand have named an otherwise predictable squad for the World Cup. Jacob Oram proved his fitness in the latter stages of the Commonwealth Bank series and Scott Styris has been selected despite a lack of game time in the international arena since returning from injury. After earning a recall to the New Zealand side following the unexpected retirement of Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent has been rewarded for his fine performances in Australia with a ticket to the West Indies and will be important factor at the top of the Kiwis’order.

Tournament favourites Australia have been far riskier with their selections, gambling on the fitness of Andrew Symonds. The big-hitting Queensland all-rounder is recovering from surgery to repair and torn bicep muscle and has been ruled out of the early game. But the selectors are willing to take the risk on Symonds, who is a key part of their structure.

Australia may also be without Adam Gilchrist for the early group matches; the wicketkeeper and vice-captain is on paternity leave as his wife is due to give birth to their third child later this month. As insurance, Australia have selected New South Wales keeper Brad Haddin as back-up for Gilchrist. Haddin comes into the squad on the back of an excellent summer in Australian domestic cricket and is the leading run scorer in the domestic one-day competition, scoring 406 runs at an average of 67 and a strike rate of 104. Haddin's selection shut the door for Victoria captain Cameron White, the selectors keeping faith in the injury-prone Shane Watson for the second all-rounder's position.

The Australian selectors also favoured the raw power and blistering speed of Shaun Tait for the final pace bowler’s spot over the more predictable and reliable Stuart Clark. Clark was the revelation of the Australian summer, beating Tait for a spot in the Test side for the Ashes. The New South Welshman was Australia’s best bowler in the 5-0 whitewash of England but found himself out of the one-day side for the Commonwealth Bank series finals and now the World Cup and can consider himself very unlucky.