MELBOURNE: Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed, batsman Adam Voges and wicket-keeper Peter Nevill were all called up by Australia on Tuesday for their upcoming tour of the West Indies and the Ashes campaign in England.

But there was no room in the 17-man squad for all-rounders James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell, who were a potent part of Australia’s one-day World Cup winning side.

Michael Clarke, who announced his retirement from one-day cricket ahead of the World Cup final, will captain the side.

Australia play two Tests in the West Indies from June 5, with their five-Test Ashes series starting in England on July 8.

Leg-spinner Fawad, who sought asylum in Australia in 2010, got the nod ahead of Ashton Agar as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon after a stellar Sheffield Shield season in which he took 48 wickets.

“It’s been an amazing 2015 for me,” said Fawad, 33, who was granted citizenship in 2013 and played three One-day Internationals and two T20 Internationals during Australia’s tour of England and Scotland later that year. “I’ve bowled with a big heart and a big chest in every situation.”

PETER Nevill

Voges, 35, won his place on the plane for similar reasons, with the 35-year-old Western Australian captain smashing 1,358 Shield runs to be the season’s highest scorer and player of the year with an average of 104.46. He will have a chance to make his Test debut.

National selector Rod Marsh said the Test team had performed very well in recent times, and the big challenge was to maintain the form away from home.

“We believe this squad has sufficient depth for these important Test matches against the West Indies and England and will give us the best chance of success,” he said.

Marsh said selectors could not ignore Fawad and Voges after ‘sensational seasons’ at domestic level.

“They thoroughly deserve their call-up and the opportunity to be a part of this squad. We believe that both can play important roles in the side if required,” he said.

“Adam had one of the great seasons in Sheffield Shield history. He is an experienced player and quality character who will add talent and leadership to the touring party.

FAWAD Ahmed

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

Nevill, the New South Wales wicket-keeper/batsman, 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 and was preferred to Matthew Wade.

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.

“Peter Nevill has been on our radar for some time and deserves his opportunity through weight of runs and performances behind the stumps,” Marsh added. “He has also demonstrated impressive leadership qualities which have caught our eye.”

Fast bowler Ryan Harris was included in the squad, but will only play the Ashes series, remaining in Australia throughout the West Indies tour for the birth of his first child.

Brothers Shaun and Mitch Marsh were also included, with Mitch preferred ahead of Faulkner and Maxwell as the side’s second all-rounder with Shane Watson.

World Cup player of the tournament Mitchell Starc has been rewarded for his efforts and fellow paceman Peter Siddle returns, while James Pattinson is ruled out of the West Indies tour with an injured left hamstring.

Batsman Joe Burns was also overlooked, despite scoring two half-centuries in Australia’s last Test, against India in January.

Local media had speculated explosive batsman Maxwell might be given a place after enjoying a fine World Cup campaign that culminated in a fifth triumph on Sunday.

Maxwell struggled in two Tests in 2013 against India and was brought back for one match against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last year but dropped from the squad for Australia’s 2-0 series win over India in the home summer.

While Faulkner and Maxwell missed out, selector Marsh cast an air of mystery over his plans for them.

“We’ve got hopeful plans that I can’t reveal right now for Jimmy Faulkner. He’ll be right,” he told reporters, adding of Maxwell: “It’s a tragedy we can’t play him in every game at the moment. But watch this space.”

Fawad and Voges were selected despite missing out on Cricket Australia contracts for the 2015-16 season.

Australia depart for the West Indies on May 19.

Squad:

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

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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