Ashes Test squad announced: Who's in, who's out

Australia’s national selection panel has announced a squad of 16 players to tour England with the objective of reclaiming The Ashes.

The Ashes Squad:

Michael Clarke (c)
Brad Haddin (vc)
Jackson Bird
Ed Cowan
James Faulkner
Ryan Harris
Phil Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Nathan Lyon
James Pattinson
Chris Rogers
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
Matthew Wade
David Warner
Shane Watson

Michael Clarke leads the squad, with Brad Haddin named as vice-captain. Haddin has been confirmed as the preferred wicketkeeper for the side and also leads Australia ‘A’ to England for lead-up play.

Usman Khawaja joins the squad after touring with Australia in India, without playing a Test.

Mitchell Johnson has missed out on the touring squad, while Ryan Harris makes a return as he returns to full-fitness.

Ashton Agar has missed out – preferred for Australia A, and not Test team at the moment. Inverarity stated: “We preferred him as an option.”

New South Welshmen Stephen O’Keefe and Steve Smith have also missed out.

Chris Rogers, 35, was out of favour for national selection, having played a sole Test against India in 2008 at the WACA.

However, his first class record averaging 50.01 in more than 200 games, and familiarity with English conditions has helped his cause in being selected in Australia’s touring squad.

James Faulkner, 22, has a record of 125 wickets at 22.34 in 34 first class matches. He has impressed in the shorter-forms of the game, taking eight wickets at 26.37 in five one-day internationals and three wickets at 17.50 in three Twenty20 matches for Australia.

The Australia ‘A’ side, which plays three games in England, is as follows:

Full statement from national selector John Inverarity:

“There is no bigger series or rivalry in world cricket than the Ashes and the NSP has picked a squad of 16 that will give us the best possible chance of winning in English conditions.

“We are under no illusion that this is going to be a huge challenge and we certainly go into it as underdogs with England playing very good cricket with an experienced and settled team that plays well at home.

“In saying that, this squad will be very competitive and fight hard every inch of the way. We have high expectations of this team and if they play to their potential we feel we can mount a very strong challenge.

“You will immediately see that Brad Haddin has come in as vice-captain. The CA Board approved the NSP’s recommendation that Brad take up the vice-captaincy. As the case with the awarding of player contracts, Michael Clarke was not part of the decision to recommend Brad. Having said that, Michael absolutely supports the NSP and the Board’s decision to appoint Brad as the new vice-captain of the Test team.

“In regards to the vice-captaincy, we feel it’s important to have a senior, seasoned player support Michael at this time. When Shane Watson advised of his decision to stand down, the NSP viewed Brad as the exceptional candidate to step into this leadership void.

“Matthew Wade is a very good cricketer and remains central to our plans for the future.

“New members to the group include Chris Rogers and James Faulkner, while Ryan Harris returns from a long absence from international cricket.

“Chris Rogers is a hardened first-class cricketer and has been given a deserved opportunity on the back of sustained run-scoring in both Australia and England over many seasons. He has vast experience in the UK and has performed outstandingly well over there; during the past four seasons in England, between 2009 and 2012, he has scored more than 5,000 first-class runs at an average of 52.3, including 17 centuries and 21 fifties.

“James Faulkner has also been given an opportunity after impressing in recent months as an all-rounder. His performance in last month’s Bupa Sheffield Shield Final was compelling and he has now produced three consistently good seasons with the ball at Shield level for Tasmania. He is a player who is seldom out of the game for long. He takes wickets, forms partnerships and makes valuable runs.

“Ryan Harris has regained fitness and it is great to have such a very highly regarded and well-performed pace bowler back in the mix.

“Nathan Lyon is the only spin bowler selected but we will be keeping a close eye on others in case another spinner is required. We’ll have approximately 30 players in England at the start of the northern summer and the NSP can add to the Ashes squad at any stage if the need arises.

“The tour to India was very demanding and a learning experience for all. The result was unacceptable and the players, coaches, support staff and NSP are smarting from those performances and are galvanised to ensure that we play tough, competitive cricket throughout the Ashes.

“Shane Watson is on track and very keen to bowl during the series and we look forward to his all-round contribution. Without the extra burden of the vice-captaincy, he will be able to focus 100% on his batting and bowling.

“From the Indian tour squad, Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson narrowly missed selection but we’ll continue to keep a close eye on their performances. Smith will play a key role for Australia A and has been appointed vice-captain of that squad.

“Moises Henriques, Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell are the other players not to have retained their places in the squad.

“Ben Hilfenhaus also came under consideration for selection for both squads but at this point in time others were viewed as having stronger claims.”

Specifically on the Australia A, Inverarity said: “There is some exciting young talent in the squad with the likes of Ashton Agar, Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, Chadd Sayers and Nic Maddinson given deserved opportunities.”

“The NSP was particularly captured by Silk’s start to his first-class career, with two centuries in his first three games including in the Bupa Sheffield Shield Final. His poise in those very important matches was impressive for someone just 21 years of age and we look forward to seeing how he performs.

“We are looking forward to watching the progress of young WA spinner Ashton Agar during the Australia A series. Agar was impressive during a short stint in India and at the backend of the domestic season in his Bupa Sheffield Shield matches.

“Doolan again had a consistent season, including a century against South Africa early in the summer in the tour match, while Sayers showed great ability to swing the ball with good control in a strong season for the Redbacks. Maddinson led the New South Wales run scorers in the Shield last season and he’s a talented player we’ve been keeping tabs on.

“The bulk of our Ashes bowling attack – James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon – will use the ‘A’ matches as important preparation for the Ashes.

“Brad Haddin will also get some valuable preparation for the Ashes in his leadership role captaining the side.

“In relation to Fawad Ahmed, we have selected only two spinners in the Australia A squad. Including three spinners would have upset team balance. We are planning a further Australia A tour to South Africa in mid-July and it is our intention to include Fawad in that squad.”