Could Shaun Tait be a World Cup wildcard?

Shaun Tait still is the world’s fastest bowler. Last summer he was clocked at a startling 157km/h in a Big Bash League match while playing for the Adelaide Strikers.

Could Australia pull a surprise and pair 31-year-old Tait with the second quickest man in cricket, Mitchell Johnson, on hard home decks in next year’s ODI World Cup?

It may not be as ridiculous as it sounds at first. Not only did Tait announce this week that he wanted to return to domestic 50-over cricket this summer, but for the first time in a long time there are generous opportunities for fast bowlers to squeeze their way into Australia’s ODI side.

Only Mitchell Johnson is a lock in the ODI line-up at this stage. Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Clint McKay have experienced recent form troughs.

Budding quicks Kane Richardson and Ben Cutting have been unspectacular. Ryan Harris, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Coulter-Nile have succumbed to injury.

All this has created an opening for a dark horse to bolt into the World Cup frame. Granted, Tait has not played ODI cricket in three-and-half years.

His last outing for Australia was against India at Ahmedabad in March 2011. After that match he retired from 50-over cricket to concentrate solely on T20s.

Tait has been a consistent success in that format, with a career haul of 157 wickets at an average of 22.

He showed during last summer’s Big Bash League that he remains a potent short form bowler. Tait was among the competition’s leading wicket takers with 11 at an average of 21.

Most importantly, he displayed the searing pace which has disconcerted batsmen since he made his professional debut 12 years ago. During the Big Bash he was consistently above 145km/h and topped out at 157km/h in a match against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.

It should not be forgotten that Tait is an ODI World Cup specialist who was influential for Australia at the past two editions.

More than half of his 62 ODI wickets have been taken at these tournaments. His return of 34 wickets at 22 in World Cup matches is sensational.

Tait clearly relishes this big stage. What a way it would be to cap his mercurial career by making an unexpected comeback to help blast Australia to its first World Cup triumph on home soil.

Of course, first he needs to earn a place in South Australia’s 50-over side. Then he must prove he can not just excel but also withstand the greater rigours of bowling up to 10 overs a match.

The newly-named Matador BBQs One-Day Cup starts in less than a month on October 4 and concludes on October 26. Should Tait make the SA side and get through that tournament well, Australia would have ample opportunity to trial him in coloured clothing prior to February’s World Cup.

Between the end of the domestic 50-over competition and the start of the World Cup, Australia have nine ODIs and three T20 Internationals.

Given the frequency with which Australia rotate their fast bowlers, there would be a chance to experiment with Tait at some point, should he have earned that privilege.

Regardless of what occurs, it is improbable that Tait would be a permanent member of the Australian attack as he was in the last two World Cups.

But the Aussies will have a large squad of players for the tournament and, were it worthwhile, could gamble by including him.

Tait would not need to need to play every game. He could be used as a pinch hitter if a match was to be played either on a particularly lively surface or against a pace-shy opponent like India or England.

How would the likes of Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Suresh Raina or Shikhar Dhawan feel taking guard on a bouncy pitch against Johnson and Tait?

The intimidation factor would be extreme. It is a long shot, I know. But what a story it would be. Go well, Mr Tait.