New blood urns right to tour, writes Robert Craddock Australia's 17-man Ashes squad will be named next month. DO YOU know the definition of a cricket system in turmoil? It's when it is better for a rising player's future not to be in the Test team than part of a unit being given an old-fashioned back-alley mugging. It happened to England in the 1990s, and it's happening to Australia this season. Aussies can win Ashes: Waugh When the 17-man party for the Ashes is named next month there will be at least five players who give thanks that they were elsewhere when Australia was being slaughtered in India. Bulls left-hander Usman Khawaja may have lamented he could not crack the Test team in India, but the fact that he spent the four Tests on the fringe meant selectors never got to see the worst of him. It left just enough of a question mark beside his name to ensure he would be chosen for the five-Test Ashes tour. When Tasmania allrounder James Faulkner saw Moises Henriques named in the Indian party he must have turned green. Not now. Swann on track for Ashes return A storming finish to the Sheffield Shield season allowed Faulkner to emerge as the swooper for Ashes selection, while Henriques has lost his Test place and now faces an uncertain future. "We look for players with consistency and Faulkner just keeps impressing us," chairman of selectors John Inverarity said. Had Ryan Harris been exposed to the brutal schedule of the Indian tour, who knows whether he would have broken down again. Now he will be one of the first players chosen after finishing the Shield season with three fine games in succession. Some Ashes squads have been picked in two hours. Others, like the famous 1989 outfit, were supposed to be chosen over dinner, but discussion continued over breakfast the next day. This squad will be chosen over a three-week period. The selectors started talking seriously early this week, and will spend the next few weeks tinkering and rethinking. Inverarity tips few surprises but does not want to rush it. "I was just watching the Fox commentators - Mark Waugh, Brendon Julian and Damien Fleming - name their sides on the Sheffield Shield final broadcast and they were all very close," he said. ntsD"There may be one different player." That means Harris and Khawaja are in and ntsDplayers like nteMitchell Johnson may miss out. Inverarity agreed the likely balance of the squad would be seven batsmen, two spinners, two wicketkeepers and six fast bowlers, or perhaps five quicks plus an allrounder. If there is a bolter or two it will come from a group of players he mentioned unprompted this week - leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and allrounders James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh. Faulkner is likely to tour as an allrounder. Either Pakistani refugee Ahmed, if he is eligible, or Agar is set to be the second spinner. At a time when the international cricket schedule has become as jumbled as a bowl of alphabet soup, and many major series have been watered down, the Ashes still matter most. Players who narrowly miss selection regret it for life. When Jack Fingleton missed the 1934 tour to England he was so broken-hearted he walked the Sydney docks alone for months. When Mike Whitney failed to make the 1989 tour, hard man Geoff Lawson - who was picked - was so disappointed for his mate he burst into tears. These extreme emotions make the Ashes special. Everyone wants to tour England, no matter what unsavoury fate awaits them when they get there. Our experts have their say: 1 Michael Clarke (c) 2 David Warner 3 Ed Cowan (vc) 4 Phil Hughes 5 Shane Watson 6 Usman Khawaja 7 Steve Smith 8 Matt Wade 9 Chris Hartley 10 James Pattinson 11 Ryan Harris 12 Peter Siddle 13 Mitchell Starc 14 James Faulkner 15 Nathan Lyon 16 Ben Hilfenhaus 17 Fawad Ahmed Selection bolter: Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed. If he can get his passport fast-tracked the Pakistani refugee will probably be chosen as the backup spin bowling option to Nathan Lyon. Queensland captain James Hopes said of him, "Hes a matchwinner. Hes got great control and hes got a good wrongun. He would hold his own at the top level, comfortably. Batsman who must tour: Usman Khawaja. He has been a lazy player with a strong sense of self-entitlement who has failed to read the signs from the panel. This is his big chance. Dont be surprised if he ends up near the top of the Australian averages, given the pureness of his technique. Bowler who must tour: If you are going to take six fast bowlers then one must be an allrounder, and Tasmanias James Faulkner is maturing nicely and blessed that he missed the tour of hell - er, sorry - India. One of the few cricketers in the country improving, and has the sort of hard-edged attitude Australia needs. Should not tour but probably will: Brad Haddin. Its time to move on. Matt Wade is a worthy retention as the No.1 keeper, but Chris Hartley should go instead of Haddin as his deputy. Soft hands and a cool head make Hartley an ideal big-occasion keeper. Biggest problem facing the selectors: The fact that Michael Clarke and Shane Watson are the most incompatible leadership combination Australia have had for 30 years. 1 Michael Clarke (c) 2 David Warner 3 Ed Cowan 4 Phil Hughes 5 Shane Watson (vc) 6 Chris Rogers 7 Steve Smith 8 Matthew Wade 9 Brad Haddin 10 Peter Siddle 11 Mitchell Starc 12 James Pattinson 13 Nathan Lyon 14 Mitchell Johnson 15 Steve OKeefe 16 Ryan Harris 17 Jackson Bird Selection bolter: Steve OKeefe. The left-arm spinner was the Sheffi eld Shields leading tweaker this summer with 24 wickets at 22.20. He must go as the back-up to Nathan Lyon. Batsman who must tour: Chris Rogers. May be 35, but if Australia want to win the Ashes they need top-order batsmen in form now. Rogers averaged 49.46 this summer, and has 18,962 fi rst-class runs and 58 centuries at 49.90. Plus he thrives in England - during the 2005 Ashes, Rogers thumped 56 and 219 against Australia playing for Leicestershire. Bowler who must tour: Jackson Bird. Will have recovered in time from a back injury, he fi nished the summer with 38 wickets at 19.28. Birds height and ability to move the ball will be assets in English conditions Should not tour but probably will: Glenn Maxwell. Selection boss John Inverarity is a huge fan but Maxwell batted poorly in India, bowled erratically and is still some way off proving himself a genuine Test player Biggest problem facing the selectors: Their batting line-up. The top order was shambolic in India and even the composition is suspect. Phil Hughes is unproven at No.3, Shane Watson is the wrong fi t at No.4 and wicketkeeper Matt Wade should not be in the top six. 1 Michael Clarke (c) 2 David Warner 3 Ed Cowan 4 Phil Hughes 5 Shane Watson (vc) 6 Usman Khawaja 7 Steve Smith 8 Chris Hartley 9 Tim Paine 10 James Pattinson 11 Ryan Harris 12 Peter Siddle 13 Mitchell Starc 14 James Faulkner 15 Nathan Lyon 16 Jackson Bird 17 Ashton Agar Selection bolter: James Faulkner. Allrounder who has taken 39 wickets at 20 for Tassie this season and hit form with the bat in the fi nal. Superb bowling variation and his bizarre slow deliveries are perfect for English conditions. Young Agar as reserve spinner and the two new keepers. Batsman who must tour: Steve Smith. Has been widely ridiculed but stood up in India in a sign that he has matured greatly. First-class average of 42, superb fielder and could be an occasional partnership breaker with his legspin. Gamechanging cricketer, which is what Australia needs. Bowler who must tour: Ryan Harris. Ricky Ponting said this week that nearly every player and selector in the country thought that, when fi t, Harris was one of the worlds best quicks. He simply must go. Throw him in for two or three of the five Tests when conditions suit best. Should not tour but probably will: Matthew Wade. At best he is Australias third-best wicketkeeper, behind Chris Hartley and Tim Paine. Never looks safe behind stumps. Biggest problem facing the selectors: A lack of talent. Australia have a multitude of cricket problems but the bottom line is you cant turn dust into diamonds, and this current side is one of the least talented in decades.