Australian paceman Glenn McGrath has said he would prefer to bowl with the new ball in his last World Cup, marking the end of his glorious 15-year career.

The veteran was used as first change behind Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken during the home tri-series but was the spearhead in New Zealand last month when Lee was injured.

"With Brett not being here, it will be interesting to see what we do with our bowling line-up and whether I take the new ball again, or whether we think about Mitch (Mitchell Johnson) or Taity (Shaun Tait) taking the new ball," McGrath said.

"I love taking the new ball, obviously that's the way I would prefer to go, but I'll sit down and I'll have to think about the game and what is best suited to the team as well as talk to Buck (John Buchanan) and Ricky (Ponting) and the other guys," he was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun'.

"At the end of the day, if it means me bowling first-change is better for the team, then I'll do that."

McGrath's accurate line and length and cunning variety has made him an ideal first-change, particularly as he can maintain pressure through the early part of an innings.

He begins his fourth World Cup as the second highest wicket-taker with 45 wickets against his name and needs 10 more to pass Pakistan's Wasim Akram.

McGrath said Stuart Clark, Bracken, Tait and Johnson must dictate terms if they want to address the team's bowling wobble in the last 10 overs.

"If the ball is not going where you want it, then you have got no hope," McGrath said.

In the past year Australia has conceded 6.64 runs an over for the last 10 overs -- the second worst for any nation.