Australia's Ashes squad announced

Australia have named an extended 17 man squad for next week's first Ashes Test, putting the current side on notice. Xavier Doherty and Callum Ferguson were the major surprises in an extended 17 man group that also included Usman Khawaja, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.

With the inclusion of two spinners in the squad, the selectors look as though they are not considering an all pace attack at the Gabba, where the seam friendly conditions sometimes encourage sides to do so. This being the case, the most likely pace attack looks like being Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger, who made a promising return in club cricket on the weekend.

In what is shaping as a particularly fascinating match, The four day game between New South Wales and Tasmania pits the two spinners named, Hauritz and Doherty, head to head on an SCG pitch that should offer some assistance. The inclusion of the 'left arm orthdox' Doherty, who made a promising One Day International debut earlier this month, has placed extra pressure on Hauritz, who has struggled over recent times.

There are unlikely to be any surprise changes to the incumbent Australian batting line-up, although selectors are waiting to confirm the fitness of Michael Clarke, who suffered a recurrence of the disc problem in his back while playing for New South Wales on the weekend. Clarke will sit out of this week's Sheffield Shield match but he is hopeful he will take his place at the Gabba.

"I'm not going to play against Tasmania on Wednesday", Clarke said. "I'm going to give myself another few days off to get my back right. But I'm confident that if I do all the right things over the next week I'll be 100% ready to go come Brisbane".

Unless Clarke succumbs to the problem, there shouldn't be any changes to Australia's established top six, meaning that Khawaja and Ferguson will have to wait to receive their debut test call ups.

The youthful duo's selection however, is a strong indication that should the selectors lose faith with Michael Hussey or Marcus North during the summer, both Ferguson and Khawaja will be knocking on the door.

Australia squad: Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.