'Big risk' Fawad Ahmed out of Ashes contention following poor domestic show

Former Pakistani refugee-turned Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is reportedly out of contention for the Test squad for the winter Ashes series following a bad week of Sheffield Shield cricket for domestic side Victoria.

Ahmed was always going to be the gamble that Australia could not afford to take once all-rounder Shane Watson broke down with a minor hamstring strain, with his poor domestic show reinforcing the view that he is too big a risk.

According to News.com.au, Ahmed's elimination from the list of probable Test candidates leaves just one place in the team up for grabs and makes it a tight tussle between ODI captain George Bailey and Alex Doolan, which will be decided when the selectors finalise the side at a meeting in Brisbane on Monday.

According to the report, although Ahmed shot into Test calculations when he claimed 6-68 in the Shield in the beginning, he, however, had poor collective figures of 1-166 and has conceded more than four runs an over in his past three Shield innings.

The report further said that with only three front-line fast bowlers, including a sometimes wayward Mitchell Johnson, the selectors are not prepared to gamble with Ahmed, although it added that the leg-spinner may still play later in the series if he can begin claiming wickets again and Watson resumes bowling.