Steve Smith has been added to the Australian Ashes squad with Fawad Ahmed left out.
The National Selection Panel (NSP) advised that NSW batsman Smith would join the squad until at least the beginning of the second Test, when it will be reviewed as to whether he will stay on with the team for the remaining matches against England.
Smith has been brought in as cover for the batting line-up.
Michael Clarke is still under an injury cloud with his back and David Warner is unable to play until the first Test due to his suspension, and National Selector John Inverarity said it was logical to bring in another batsman.
Spinner Ashton Agar will stay on as a development player until the start of the second Test, but hasn’t been added to the squad in an official capacity.
Pakistan-born asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed will return home to Australia on Monday as he continues with his citizenship process.
Inverarity made it clear Agar isn’t ahead of Ahmed in the pecking order and that legspinner Ahmed was returning home as a matter of his circumstance.
The plan is for Ahmed and Agar to join the Australia A squad in South Africa in two weeks and, if Australia decide they need an extra spinner for the remaining Ashes Tests, a decision will be made then between those two.
Smith scored a century for Australia A against Ireland last week and also showed good form when given an opportunity in the Indian series in March.
“The NSP advises that Steve Smith has been added to the Australian Ashes squad until the beginning of the second Test when it will be reviewed,” Inverarity said.
“Given David Warner is unavailable for the upcoming tour games against Somerset and Worcestershire and while Michael Clarke continues to make good progress from a back injury, we feel further batting cover is required.
“Ashton Agar is to accompany the Ashes Squad until the beginning of the second Test as a development player. This will be similar to the situation when Mitchell Starc accompanied the ODI, T20 and Test Squads on the tour to West Indies in 2012 as a development player.
“Fawad Ahmed will return to Australia tomorrow (Monday) while he goes through the processes required of him to become an Australian citizen and remains a player of interest to the National Selection Panel.”
