Symonds misses out... on Australia’s Ashes squad

Robert SMITH

Controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds was a notable omission from Australia’s squad for this year’s Ashes cricket tour to England when it was announced here on Wednesday. Selectors named a 16-man squad with three all-rounders Shane Watson, Andrew McDonald and Marcus North but there was no room for the 34-year-old Symonds.

Symonds has had a chequered 26-Test career and has not played for Australia since last year’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne following a season of injury, poor form and off-field personal problems. “Selectors have a tough job picking any team and it’s obviously hard picking an Ashes squad and unfortunately for Andrew this time there hasn’t been room in the 16-man squad for him,” skipper Ricky Ponting said at the team announcement. “He made a reasonable comeback in the one-day team (against Pakistan) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the last few weeks and unfortunately he missed out on this selection. “But I know he’ll keep working hard and he’ll give himself every opportunity to make his way back into the team in the future.”

Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said the selection of injury-prone Watson was subject to his recovery from a groin injury. “I suppose Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson were competing for the same spot, I would class them both as batters who give us quality overs at their best, but on this occasion Shane has been preferred because in the selectors’ view he adds great balance to the team,” Hilditch said.

Opening batsman Phillip Hughes is the youngster of the tourists at 20, and comes into the Ashes series on the back of scoring four centuries during a recent six-week English county guest stint with Middlesex.

“Phil Hughes has been setting the world on fire over there which is great for him and the team when we all arrive and get under way,” Ponting said. “We have a great balance of youth and experience, so hopefully when the big moments come around it will be all of us who stick our hands up and get the job done.” Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip

Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee,

Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle,

Shane Watson (subject to fitness) SYDNEY, Wednesday, AFP