Australia leave Symonds out of Ashes squad

Australia have named the 16-man squad they hope will retain the Ashes in England this summer and the biggest shock is that there is no place for Andrew Symonds, on his day one of the most explosive all-rounders in world cricket.

Symonds' well-documented off-pitch problems with alcohol and his behaviour have led the Aussie selectors to drop the 33-year-old and instead call up Andrew McDonald from the Victoria state side. Shane Watson took the other position for all-rounder in the line-up, which was announced overnight in Sydney and which will depart for England next week.

Many believed Symonds was in line for a recall to the side after captain Ricky Ponting dropped strong hints yesterday that he would be in the squad, but McDonald was preferred after impressing on the recent Australian tour to South Africa.Watson is currently injured but expects to be fit for the tour, which begins with a match against Sussex on June 24.

Elsewhere, there are few surprises in the squad. The exciting 20-year-old left-hander Phillip Hughes is included and expected to open alongside Simon Katich. The explosive Michael Hussey will relish playing on English pitches again, having destroyed many a bowling attack for Durham, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire.

The bowling attack is boosted by veterans Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, but lacks the fearsome quality that previous Ashes line-ups boasted. For the first time in almost 20 years, England will likely have the stronger spinners, as Nathan Hauritz shoulders that burden for the tourists, while England have Graham Swann and Monty Panesar.

The excitement mounts for what will surely be one of the tightest Ashes series for years.

Full squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Paul Weaver, the Guardian: "It's a blow for Symonds and I can't see him getting back now. There will be some feeling of relief in the England camp because he is a most destructive player, not the sort you want to see coming to the wicket at four down. England supporters should be dissuaded from taking too much comfort from the fact that only four members of the squad featured in the heroic series of 2005 – Ponting, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Brett Lee. That overlooks the inconvenient truth that Brad Haddin was also a members of the party four years ago." ·