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Veteran fears for spinner's World Cup

Scorchers leg-spinner Brad Hogg says Australia may play all its matches without a specialist spinner

Brad Hogg fears the strength of Australia's pace attack may stop Xavier Doherty from getting on the park during the World Cup.

Doherty was left out of the XI who thumped England a week and a half ago.

The 32-year-old is expected to again miss the cut when Australia face New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.

Hogg believes a perfect storm of quality pacemen, superb allrounders and Glenn Maxwell's off-spin will keep Doherty out of the team.

"It's going to be pretty difficult for him to get a game in this World Cup, which is very disappointing," Hogg told AAP.

"It's sad, because you always want to see a frontline spinner in any team.

"But the pace attack has three genuine wicket-taking options, there might be three allrounders in there when James Faulkner is back.

"Glenn Maxwell has been getting wickets, he can break partnerships but can also hold up an end.

"So who do you take out?

"Thinking about the balance of the team, I just can't see Doherty getting a game."

Hogg, who started his first-class career as a batsman, was part of Australian squads that went through the 2003 and 2007 World Cups undefeated.

The veteran tweaker suggested national selectors' focus on batting depth also hurt Doherty's chances of a call-up.

"Brad Haddin was batting at eight and Mitchell Johnson at nine in the game against England," Hogg noted.

"They clearly want to bat really deep and that's very important in a World Cup."

Doherty noted earlier this month he was "realistic" about his prospects.

"I won't be playing every game," he told radio station SEN.

"Given the quality of our quicks, they'll make it pretty hard for me to come in.

"But particularly when the wickets start to slow up later in the tournament, in Sydney, potentially Hobart and if we make it to Adelaide, at some stage I'll come into contention."