MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Australia have named legspinner Fawad Ahmed and veteran Western Australian batsman Adam Voges in their 17-man tour squad for the West Indies and England tours in June and July.
The pair were picked following strong domestic seasons, with Ahmed the leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield and Voges the leading run-scorer.
New South Wales wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Nevill has also been selected in the test squad for the first time as Australia seeks to groom a successor for the eventual retirement of 37-year-old Brad Haddin.
The 29-year-old Nevill scored 764 runs at 76.40 throughout the Shield season including a top score of 235 not out against Tasmania in February.
Pace bowler Ryan Harris was listed in the 17-man squad but will sit out the tour of the Caribbean to be home for the birth of his first child.
Squad – Chris Rogers, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris*, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Fawad Ahmed
Meanwhile, the following 19 players were awarded contracts yesterday.
George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, 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.
* only for England series
