Former Test spinner Ashton Agar will spend the winter rubbing shoulders with Australia’s under-19 cricketers as part of a national performance squad.

The 20-year-old Agar, who played two Tests in the 2013 Ashes tour of the UK, was named on Wednesday in a 22-man squad which will train at the national cricket centre in Brisbane.

Left-armer Agar has claimed 14 wickets at the unflattering average of 53.71 and scored 161 at 16.10 in seven Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia this summer.

Australia’s Test selectors chose the squad following input from national talent manager Greg Chappell, national cricket centre head coach Troy Cooley and state talent managers.

Test wicketkeeping great Ian Healy’s 17-year-old son Tom is one of six development scholars who will attend the cricket centre during school holidays.

“The players selected represent those who we think have the potential to go on and become important contributors to Australian cricket,” Chappell said.

“There are a number of players from our current Under-19 squad (contesting the Under-19 World Cup in the UAE) and others who have progressed to state cricket and are continuing to impress.”

Cooley, Graeme Hick, Mike Hussey (batting), John Davison and Brad Hogg (spin bowling) and Tim Coyle (wicketkeeping and fielding) are among the specialist coaches who will mentor the young squad members.

Up to five players will be added to the squad in the next two weeks. These players will travel to Hampshire to play league cricket in England, following on from last year’s program.

“There are also plans for an A series featuring Australia A, India A, South Africa A and the national performance squad, as well as matches in India,” Chappell said.

“A number of the pace bowlers will again have the opportunity to travel to India to work under the tutelage of Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Academy.”

Western Australia quick Jason Behrendorff, 23, is the oldest member of the squad.

The squad also includes Victoria leggie and World T20 squad member James Muirhead. Agar and Muirhead will join Australia under-19 squad members such as tall quick Billy Stanlake and right-handed batsman Alex Gregory.