Controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been overlooked for Australia’s Ashes tour of England but pace stalwarts Brett Lee and Stuart Clark have been recalled.
Chief Test selector Andrew Hilditch on Wednesday morning named a 16-man squad for the five-Test series which included all-rounders Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald ahead of Symonds.
Watson has been chosen subject to fitness after sustaining a minor groin injury in the recent limited-over series against Pakistan but Hilditch fully expected him to take his place.
The five-Test series starts with the First Test in Cardiff from July 8 and finishes with the Fifth Test at The Oval in late August.
Australia hold the Ashes courtesy of Ricky Ponting’s side’s 5-0 whitewash at home in 2006-07, to regain the urn after a 2-1 defeat in England in 2005.
The squad included off-spinner Nathan Hauritz as the sole slow bowler while South Australian Graham Manou was chosen as the back-up wicketkeeper to custodian Brad Haddin.
Experienced new-ball duo Lee and Clark were selected after making their long-awaited return from injuries with the white ball in the past month.
Their inclusion in a five-man pace battery – along with incumbents Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus – meant left-armer Doug Bollinger was the unlucky man to miss out.
“The Ashes squad contains an exciting blend of experience and youth,” Hilditch said. “The core of the squad is made up of the side which successfully won the Test series in South Africa.
“The young fast bowling group which performed so well in South Africa of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus will all be taking part in their first Ashes tour to England and as shown in South Africa they have the skills to perform at the international level and will be well suited to English conditions.
“Andrew McDonald played a very important role in both Australia’s victory in the last Test match in Australia and on the recent series in South Africa and has been rewarded with his first Ashes squad selection.”
All-round option Watson, who hasn’t bowled in match conditions for almost six months, doubles as the reserve batsman, keeping Victorian run-machine Brad Hodge out of the tour party.
Watson said he would be right to return to bowling in the nets next week.
“Shane Watson has been named in the squad subject to fitness, but that is not expected to be a serious issue as he is recovering from a very mild groin strain at present and is expected to be fully fit for the ICC World Twenty20 in the UK and the commencement of the Ashes,” Hilditch said.
“Shane in our view has the ability to bat anywhere in the order and enables us to have a batsman in the top six who can provide quality pace support for the fast bowling group.”
The top six from the team which earned a 2-1 series victory over South Africa have been retained, including West Australian Marcus North, who scored a century on debut and gives extra flexibility with his part-time off-spin.
Hilditch said England, who have dominated the West Indies in a 2-0 series win at home this month, would not be underestimated.
“We expect the Ashes to be an exciting and riveting encounter, consistent with the great tradition of rivalry between England and Australia,” he said.
“Attempting to beat England on home soil is a great challenge for this young Australian squad and both Ricky and the squad are looking forward to it immensely.”
The 16-man squad is:
Ricky Ponting (c) – TAS, 34
Michael Clarke (vc) – NSW, 28
Stuart Clark – NSW, 33
Brad Haddin – NSW, 31
Nathan Hauritz – NSW, 27
Ben Hilfenhaus – TAS, 26
Phillip Hughes – NSW, 20
Michael Hussey – WA, 33
Mitchell Johnson – WA, 27
Simon Katich – NSW, 33
Brett Lee – NSW, 32
Graham Manou – SA, 30
Andrew McDonald – VIC, 27
Marcus North – WA, 29
Peter Siddle – VIC, 24
Shane Watson* – QLD, 27
* Subject to fitness
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