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Cricket Australia today announced a 16-member squad for the five-Test Ashes Series during Australia's Tour of England. The first Test of the series will be played in Cardiff and will commence on 8th July.

The 16-man squad is:
Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou (wk), Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson

One notable absentee in the squad is all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Captain Ricky Ponting would be disappointed with Symonds' exclusion having been building up a case for his recall most of last week.

Speaking after the team announcement Ponting said, "Selectors have a tough job picking any team and it's obviously hard picking an Ashes squad and unfortunately for Andrew this time there hasn't been room in the 16-man squad for him."

Three other allrounders have been picked ahead of Symonds - Andrew McDonald, Marcus North and Shane Watson.

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "The core of the squad is made up of the side which successfully won the Test series in South Africa and includes Phillip Hughes and Marcus North who both scored hundreds on debut. 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.

"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. 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."

Also making the squad is South Australian Redbacks veteran wicketkeeper Graham Manou, who will deputize when needed for Brad Haddin.

A lot of the batting load will need to be shouldered by veterans Ponting and Clarke, though one can expect great things from youngest man in the Australian squad Phillip Hope (20). Following his century on debut against South Africa, Hope has spent six fruitful weeks in Middlesex, acclimatizing himself with English conditions in the best possible manner - hitting four centuries!

The fast-bowling unit looks lethal with the return of Brett Lee who has been in supreme form in the IPL in South Africa (read more). Mitchell Johnson has emerged a great strike bowler at the top of the order and is likely to get good support from Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and the also returning Stuart Clark. Throw in the two medium-fast bowlers McDonald and Shane Watson and Australia has all the makings of a side well capable of taking 20 wickets.

The one huge concern for the Aussies will be the absence of a quality spinner with Nathan Hauritz selected to play the lead role. The 27-year old from New South Wales is not in the same league as a Tim May or a Colin ‘Funky' Miller, leave alone past Ashes legends Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. It'll be interesting to see if Ponting does pick Hauritz in his final 11, or goes in with 4 quicks and Watson or McDonald, with both North and Clarke also capable of rolling their arms over if required.

Hilditch added: "We expect the Ashes to be an exciting and riveting encounter, consistent with the great tradition of rivalry between England and Australia. 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. It promises to be a very exciting series."

The Australian Twenty20 squad (read more about it here) will depart for the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

 

Photograph copyright: Peter Frost

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