Australia has announced its 17-man squad for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, with Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed the surprise inclusion.
SEE ALSO:
em>(Video Highlights) Cricket World Cup Final: Michael Clarke stars as Australia crush New Zealand
(Video) Australia v New Zealand: All the wickets from the Cricket World Cup Final
(Video) Australia v New Zealand: Steve Smith bizarrely survives after ball hits stumps in Cricket World Cup Final
Ahmed is joined by Western Australia batsman Adam Voges, who snared a call-up after an outstanding Sheffield Shield season.
Veteran quick Ryan Harris won’t play in the series against the West Indies, with the 35-year-old being kept in cotton wool until the Ashes.
33-year-old Ahmed was selected over WA youngster Ashton Agar, in a reversal of the 2013 series where Ahmed missed selection despite gaining Australian citizenship before the tour of England.
Ahmed was superb in the Sheffield Shield taking 48 wickets at an average of 24.85 as Victoria went on the clinch the title for the first time since the 2009/10 season.
New South Wales wicketkeeper Peter Nevill will be taken as back-up for Brad Haddin, while selectors have selected five pace bowlers in the form of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD:
Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith (vc), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson
COMMENTS