By BRAD McGRATH
TWO Dandenong Panthers pacemen will spearhead Australia’s attack in England as they attempt to reclaim the Ashes.
James Pattinson and Peter Siddle were both named in a 16-man squad for the Test series starting in July but a Casey-South Melbourne star faces a fight to take part.
New South Wales wicket-keeper Brad Haddin has stunningly been elevated to the Australian vicecaptaincy after being replaced by Swans gloveman Matthew Wade in recent times.
National selector John Inverarity said Haddin would be the preferred wicketkeeper for the Ashes tour but Wade, who will travel to England as his back-up, was still ‘‘highly regarded’’.
‘‘I would say over the last 18 months that we’ve stated consistently that Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin are the two best keepers in Australia,’’ he said.
‘‘I would say that during the last month or so that we’ve believed that Brad is the man for the Ashes.
‘‘We decided that finally about a week or 10 days ago.’’
The two other major surprise in the England touring party were veteran Chris Rogers, who swayed the selectors with a brilliant summer in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria, and Tasmanian James Faulkner as the bowling all-rounder.
Rogers played one Test match for Australia against India at the WACA in 2008 when he made eight and 15
‘‘Chris Rogers has been a prolific scorer in Australia and England,’’ Inverarity said.
The squad: Michael Clarke (C), Brad Haddin (VC), Jackson Bird, Ed Cowan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.
