Uncapped trio into Test touring squad

Australian Test selectors have opted for two stand-out Sheffield Shield performers over a pair of World Cup winners as they attempt to win the Ashes on English soil for the first time in 14 years.

Pakistani-born legspinner Fawad Ahmed and batsman Adam Voges, who topped the Shield bowling and batting averages respectively, have been summoned into Australia’s squad for Test tours of the West Indies and England.

But there was no space for the World Cup final’s man of the match James Faulkner or Glenn Maxwell, and incumbent Test No.6 Joe Burns.

NSW wicketkeeper Peter Nevill has been named as Brad Haddin’s back-up while batsman Shaun Marsh gets another crack at Test cricket after being included in the 17-man squad.

Peter Siddle is also back in the touring party after missing the bulk of Australia’s 4-0 rout of India this summer.

Ahmed, who sought asylum in Australia after fleeing Pakistan in 2010, has been rewarded for taking 48 wickets across a stellar domestic summer, including 8-89 in the Shield final.

And Voges, at age 35, was named after scoring 1358 runs at an average of 104.46 for Western Australia.

National selection chairman Rod Marsh said the feats of Ahmed and Voges could not be ignored.

“I looked at (Voges) on four or five occasions … and I thought `I don’t know how anyone’s going to get this bloke out’, he was that dominant,” he said.

“Fawad has worked incredibly hard on his game and has demonstrated throughout the season that he can be a consistent wicket-taker.”

Burns will travel to India with a strong Australia A squad under the captaincy of Usman Khawaja, along with Ashton Agar, Maxwell, Steven O’Keefe and Patrick Cummins, another World Cup winner.

Faulkner was not named for either tour and Marsh cast an air of mystery over the Tasmanian’s plans for the Australian winter.

Marsh said the short-form specialist would be catered for – he just wasn’t saying how.

“James desperately needs some red ball cricket (and) it’s not his fault he hasn’t played any,” he said.

“We’ve got hopeful plans that I can’t reveal right now for Jimmy Faulkner. He’ll be right.”

Paceman Ryan Harris will miss the two-Test series in the West Indies starting June 5 to remain in Australia as his partner gives birth to their first child.

Harris will join the Test squad for the five-Test Ashes series which starts in England on July 8.

Ahmed and Voges have been selected despite missing out on Cricket Australia (CA) contracts for the 2015/16 season.

CA announced on Tuesday it had contracted 19 players, one more than last season, with paceman Peter Siddle missing a deal but being named for the Test tours.

Emerging fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and allrounder Mitchell Marsh won contracts.

Dropping off the contract list were Siddle and deceased batsman Phil Hughes.

AUSTRALIAN TEST SQUAD

Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith (vice-capt), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris (UK only), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA 2015/16 CONTRACTED PLAYERS

George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.

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