Oz announce 17-man squad for Ashes series against England

Australia have announced their 17-man squad for the Ashes series against England and they would be riding high on confidence having bagged their fifth World Cup trophy after winning Sunday's final.

County side Middlesex captain Adam Voges and Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed have been included in the squad to tour England this summer. Ahmed has been selected as the second spinner ahead of Ashton Agar, who broke the record for the highest score by a Test number 11 against England in 2013.

Voges was voted the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year, having made 1,358 runs at an average of 104.46, the BBC reported.

The first Ashes Test would begin in Cardiff on Wednesday, July 8, and ahead of that, Australia would play a two-match Test series against West Indies, beginning on June 5.

National selector Rod Marsh said that Voges and Ahmed had sensational seasons at domestic level and their performances just couldn't be ignored, adding that they believe that both can play important roles in the side if required.

Ahmed claimed asylum in Australia in 2010 and his citizenship application was fast-tracked three years later. He has played in three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches for Australia, but is yet to make his Test debut.

Michael Clarke would captain the side having led Australia to their fifth World Cup title with victory over New Zealand on Sunday.

Bowler Ryan Harris would not travel to the West Indies as his wife is pregnant with their first child, but has been included in the Ashes squad.

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