1:21pm: 2013 Ashes 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. Notable Ashes omissions: Moises Henriques, Steve Smith, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitch Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Xavier Doherty, Alex Doolan, Shaun Marsh Australia A squad: Brad Haddin (c), Steve Smith (vc), Jordan Silk, Nick Maddinson, Alex Doolan, Usman Khawaja, Moises Henriques, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ashton Agar, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chad Sayers. Frail, flabby and fragile Brits appear too busy sleeping their complacent sleep to take much notice of Australia announcing its team of valiant underdogs. But Guardian cricket writer Mike Selvey probably spoke for many by saying that trying to predict the Aussie ashes squad was like a trip back to English cricket in the 1980s. That Australian cricket is in a mess needs no clarification... In Test match terms, Australia batsmen have become frail in thinking and flabby in technique; there are pace bowlers of considerable promise but physical fallibility... The fall from their position of being not just far and away the best side in the world but one of the greatest to the sorry state in which they find themselves now, has been astounding by any standards. His conclusion is that Australia "will be stretched as they might never have been before." 1:01pm: Former Australian (mostly winning) captain Steve Waugh says he cannot understand what has happened to batting prospect Shaun Marsh. He says Marsh's Test century on debut was as good a piece of batting as the game has seen. Waugh and fellow former Test skipper Mark Taylor were present at the announcement, as if that would help invoke a miraculous performance from the journeymen being named. Some optimistic souls are looking for a '1989', when an unfancied Australian team surprisingly dominated. A closer look at the personnel on either side in that series might put paid to such notions. The Australians have a strong attack, well suited to the antiicpated green pitches. In pace bowling we trust. The good old days weren't that long ago. Photo: Getty images 12:57pm: An ugly set of numbers. Cricket is one sport where some statistics really can tell a story. Here are the Test averages of the respective top orders in the upcoming Ashes battle. ENGLAND Alastair Cook 49.04 Nick Compton 40.00 Jonathon Trott 50.03 Kevin Pietersen 49.01 Ian Bell 46.45 Joe Root 30.17 Matt Prior 45.46 AUSTRALIA Chris Rogers 11.00 David Warner 39.47 Ed Cowan 32.90 Phil Hughes 33.00 Usman Khawaja 29.22 Shane watson 35.34 Michael Clarke 52.34 Brad Haddin 35.51 Yikes. 12:39pm: Sportingbet have not waited long to push an Ashes market: 2013 Ashes - Series winner England $1.45 Australia $4.25 Drawn Series $6.50 The odds are hard to argue with. But from the tenor of comments on this article, the bookies are going to have to be more generous to get Australian punters spending on this bet type. Australian captain Michael Clarke (L) has a big load on his slender shoulders. 12:33pm: That's a world record amount of openers in a Test squad. David Warner, Phil Hughes, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson. It appears that the genuine middle order consists of... Michael Clarke. He's become a brilliant player, but he'll have plenty of heavy lifting to do. 12:25pm: They said it: John Inverarity: We have full flexibility from CA to add to the squad for fitness or form. We've selected 16 players and should the need arise, we will add to the squad. We picked here the best side that we think for England and included in that is experience in English conditions. From the players available we believe Chris Rogers is very deserving of selection. In regards to the vice-captaincy, we feel it's important to have a senior, seasoned player support Michael at this time. Michael Clarke: I believe we learn a lot from India as individual players and as a team. With this squad we have the talent experience and the youth to go over there & have success I hope I'm fully fit for all 5 Tests. If the captain is not fit you need a replacement there who can do a great job. 12:16pm: Named Australian wicketkeeper once more, Brad Haddin tells Fox Sports he can't wait to get back to playing in the Ashes, and he had no doubt he could make it back after having his Test career cut short by personal issues. He backs fellow greybeard Chris Rogers, saying his record "speaks for itself" and he made the team by virtue of "sheer weight of runs." He says the Ashes is acompletely different to playing in India and "we're going over there to win." Michael Clarke has welcomed the return of his mate and confidante as his deputy "Having the vice-captaincy is something I know he will enjoy and embrace," Clarke said. "The firm intention at this stage is that Brad is the preferred keeper for the Ashes," said Chairman of Selectors John Inverarity. With Mike (Hussey) and Ricky going there's a gap in experience and Chris fills that gap. Steven Smith has averaged 32.30 in seven Tests. He made 92, 5, 46 and 18 in India. 12:08pm: 2013 Ashes 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. Steve Smith was Australia's best batsman other than the skipper in India, but misses out here. That's a horses for courses (non-) selection if ever I saw one. 12:03pm: The Australia A squad to tour England this winter features several players from the Test squad. Brad Haddin is named skipper, with Steve Smith, who missed out on Test squad selection, his deputy. With the selectors indicating the Test squad can be altered from its original 16-man line-up, depending on form and fitness, players in the A squad must be considered the first-call replacements. That's good news for Smith, NSW batsman Nick maddinson, WA left-arm spinner aashton Agar, boom South Australian swing bowler Chad Sayers and Tasmanian batsman Jordan Silk. Clearly, the Australia A tour is being used as a warm-up for English conditions for some players, and as a development opportunity for others. Batsman Chris Rogers playing for Victoria last November. "We looked to pick the best seven batsmen for English conditions," Inverarity says of the selection of Chris Rogers, adding yet another opening batsman to the line-up which failed in India. The other player who might be considered unlucky is NSW middle order batsman Steven Smith, who made runs in India late in that tour. "We were very pleased with his performance in India and we tried to get him in the squad... he's in the frame for the future," says Inverarity. 11:56am: Michael Clarke says he is not too concerned by what the English are thinking and saying. He knows the team let down the Australian public with its performance in India and is excited about the opportunities in the future. Inverarity says dumped fast bowler Mitch Johnson remains a chance for selection in the future. Michael Clarke 11:36am: Chloe Saltau's verdict on the shock selection of Chris Rogers? The inclusion of Chris Rogers suggests a new direction. An emphasis on experience and leadership. Oh, and almost 20,000 first class runs, many of them in England. Rogers was leagues above many younger competitors in the Sheffield Shield season just completed, making 742 runs at 49.46, with three centuries. Only Ricky Ponting matched his feats with the bat. Wonder how David Hussey feels. His record more than matches Rogers, and he is also experienced and adept in English conditions. He just didn't have his best season when it counted. Chris Rogers celebrates a Sheffield Shield century. Chloe Saltau reports that veteran opener Chris Rogers is about to be named in the Ashes squad. Rogers, 35, played his one and only Test in 2008 at the WACA, scoring 4 and 15 against India, which Australia lost by 72 runs. The stubborn left-hander, a former West Australian, has been a stalwart for Victoria, and has held his form throughout his 30s. Rogers has a first-class average of 50, and is extremely experienced in English conditions, having played for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and currently, for Middlesex. 10:51am: Best first-class averages of Australian batsmen in contention for an Ashes Test berth: David Warner 45.28 Ed Cowan 39.46 Shane Watson 43.42 Michael Clarke 48.39 Phil Hughes 44.20 Steven Smith 41.65 Brad Haddin 39.19 Usman Khawaja 42.90 Shaun Marsh 35.77 Matthew Wade 39.78 Alex Doolan 37.92 Callum Ferguson 36.05 Moises Henriques 30.66 10:19am: Chloe Saltau's predicted squad: Clarke (c), Haddin (vc), Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Marsh, Smith, Wade, Lyon, Siddle, Pattinson, Starc, Harris, Bird, Hilfenhaus. That means Usman Khawaja again misses out, after failing to register a Test in India despite being in the squad. There are few youngsters pushing their claims for a middle order berth. Only four players who played more than five matches averaged over 40 in the Sheffield Shield in 2012/13. Ricky Ponting 75.91; Brad Haddin 52.00; Chris Rogers 49.46; Alex Doolan 42.05. Only Doolan is under 30 years of age, and after a sparkling century against South Africa early in the season, his form was mediocre. 9:58am: Response to the prospect of Brad Haddin becoming Australian vice-captain for the Ashes tour has been, well, less than lukewarm. Here's the general tenor: "Unbelievable! Giving the vice captaincy to someone who's not even a regular in the side, is not the number one 'keeper and is almost retired is madness. So said Dave from St Kilda. Dave of maitland was the lone voice in the wilderness in support of the Haddin ascendancy. Of 34 readers making comment early this morning, he was the only not to condemn the selection of the ageing NSW keeper: I think Brad Haddin is a very good choice. Before his return from the West Indies, he and Mike Hussey had been the two rocks Australia was built around. His leadership qualities will be needed. But the critics drowned out Dave's lone voice. Samples: This is a shambles. We will be laughed out of england and there could be no greater embarrassment." - Padrino Lets get Merv to open the Bowling from the Bar near the pie stand! Makes Swimming look well administered." - John C, Kew "Australian cricket...confused and erratic and now going backwards." - Bill, Northcote Brad Haddin out-performed most of his younger batting rivals during the 2012-2013 Sheffield Shield season.