Matthew Hayden says he will use his recall to the Australian limited-overs side for the upcoming series in Malaysia as a springboard for a World Cup berth.
The powerful left-hander was included in the 18-man squad on Tuesday that will travel to the Asian country for matches against India and the West Indies, and while he admits that he was slightly shocked, he aims to vindicate the selection.
"I probably didn't expect it but it's a great reward," Hayden told reporters.
Hayden, who has averaged 40.10 in his 119-match one-day career, was left out of the side for the VB Series last summer, after a lower than expected returns as the Test opener during last year's Ashes defeat in England.
The Queenslander was not angered with the selectors' decision, but is hell-bent on grabbing his new opportunity with both hands.
"I could perfectly understand where the selectors were coming from," Hayden said.
"The World Cup did seem a long way away and there was a maturing squad of players but I also think you've got to be in a position where you've got to select your best team all the time and I'd like to think I'm part of that squad."
Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch has supported Hayden's push for selection as both a one-day and Test batsman with the national side.
"He is still very much in our thoughts for the 2007 ICC World Cup and the one-day component of the Australian summer and this gives him an excellent opportunity to further impress."
Meanwhile, Hayden revealed that in his hiatus from the short version of the game during the ups and downs of his stunning career in general, advice he received from Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to 'get better and not bitter' during the mid 90s has always held him in good stead.
"The amazing thing in your career is you've got to metamorphose yourself in some ways and one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from Wayne Bennett," the 34-year-old said.
"I always draw particularly great energy from his comments because it's so relevant."
"That's really stood me in good stead because it's really converted opportunities which maybe didn't present themselves into an opportunity to get better, to look at areas where I could improve and then to take the opportunities."
