Pounding Cricket World Cup hangovers may only have just abated but already Australian selectors have turned their focus to the next item on a busy agenda with the announcement of their squad to travel to the Caribbean to face West Indies and then on to England and Wales where they will dispute the 2015 Ashes series.
Leg spinner Fawad Ahmed was given the nod ahead of Ashton Agar as Australia’s second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon, while in-form batsman Adam Voges was rewarded for a stellar Sheffield Shield campaign with a spot in captain Michael Clarke’s travelling party.
Pakistan-born Ahmed, 33, was the leading wicket-taker in the Shield this season, with 48, including figures of 8-89 in the first innings of Victoria’s final against Western Australia, while WA captain Voges set a new runs record in the competition, making 1,358 at an average of 104.46.
“It’s been an amazing 2015 for me,” Ahmed said. “I’ve bowled with a big heart and a big chest in every situation.”
National selector Rod Marsh said the “sensational” seasons enjoyed by Ahmed and Voges at domestic level made it impossible to ignore them. “They thoroughly deserve their call-up and the opportunity to be a part of this squad,” he said. “We believe that both can play important roles in the side if required.
“Adam had one of the great seasons in Sheffield Shield history. He is an experienced player and quality character who will add talent and leadership to the touring party. Fawad has worked incredibly hard on his game and has demonstrated throughout the season that he can be a consistent wicket taker.”
Big-hitting Glenn Maxwell, one of the stars of Australia’s successful World Cup tilt over the past month and a half but yet to prove himself at Test level, was overlooked; so too James Faulkner, the man of the match in the World Cup final.
Instead Maxwell will travel to India with a strong Australia A squad, which also contains demoted Test batsman Joe Burns, new captain Usman Khawaja, World Cup winner Pat Cummins and Agar. Faulkner though will stay at home. “James desperately needs some red ball cricket [and] it’s not his fault he hasn’t played any,” Marsh said. “We’ve got hopeful plans that I can’t reveal right now for Jimmy Faulkner. He’ll be right.”
There was, however, a chance for wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, who was included in a Test squad for the first time after impressing with the bat throughout the domestic season. He will play understudy to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
With seam-friendly English wickets in mind, Australia will take five fast bowlers in Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris, although the latter will make the Ashes series only; he misses the trip to the West Indies for the birth of his first child. James Pattinson, who enjoyed a successful return to first-class cricket over the Australian summer but sustained a hamstring injury in the Shield final, has been ruled out of the first series, but will be assessed ahead of the Ashes and may be brought into the squad at a later date.
Clarke will again head Australia’s batting lineup, alongside vice-captain Steve Smith, with David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Rogers, and Shane Watson completing the 17-man selection.
Australia will contest two Tests against West Indies for the Frank Worrell trophy in the first half of June and shortly after the tourists will seek to retain the urn they currently hold in a five-Test series against England during July and August. Just over two weeks separate the end of the second Test in Kingston and the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, which starts on 8 July.
Australian Test squad to face the West Indies and England: Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith (vc), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris*, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.
*Harris to tour UK only
