Ahmed, Voges named in Australia's Ashes squad

Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed and veteran all-rounder Adam Voges were calld up to Australia's Test squad for touring the West Indies and England for the Ashes on Tuesday.

Victorian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed was selected as Australia's second spinner while Voges was rewarded for his record-breaking domestic season.

Ahmed took a competition high 48 wickets for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield domestic this season. Western Australia's spinner Ashton Agar was also in contention for a call-up after taking 31 wickets at 30.48.

Ahmed, 33, was born in Pakistan and granted Australian citizenship in 2013. He played three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 internationals on Australia's tour of England that year.

National selector Rodney Marsh said Ahmed's ability to keep things tight as well as be a big a wicket-taking threat impressed him.

"Him being a leg-spinner as opposed to a finger spinner gave him a slight advantage. Believe it or not, Australia is always looking for leg spinners. We've had a proud history of leg spinning in this country and we want that to continue," Marsh was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Tuesday.

"(Ahmed) doesn't bowl too much rubbish and he creates a lot of pressure. He has men around the bat in most instances and he keeps asking the batsmen questions, which is what good spinners do."

Marsh said Ahmed was selected keeping in mind the possibility of England having several left-handers in the team.

"He maintains good economy and asks questions of both left and right-handers, bear in mind that England may have up to seven left-handers."

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