Australia have named a 17-man squad for the Investec Ashes and the preceding Test series with West Indies, including Middlesex first-class captain Adam Voges.
The selection of Voges means the Lord’s-based county will have to reassess their leadership options for this season.
Voges’ inclusion, after a brilliant winter featuring 1,358 Sheffield Shield runs at an average of 104.46 that guided Western Australia to the competition’s final, is a blow to Middlesex who signed him as captain given the likely inclusion of their previous skipper Chris Rogers.
As expected, Rogers is in the tour party but Voges being alongside him creates a headache for Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser and head coach Richard Scott, who have Eoin Morgan as their limited-overs captain.
A Middlesex statement read: “Given the record-breaking form that Adam has been in this winter in the Sheffield Shield for Western Australia, his call-up to the Australian squad became increasingly likely with every run scored, and towards the end of the Shield campaign became almost an inevitability, so we have for some time been working on a contingency plan in the event that this became a reality.
“Conversations have been had, a shortlist of suitable players has been drawn up, and in light of this morning's announcement by Cricket Australia we can now begin to formalise these plans to secure a replacement.
“Cricket Australia have confirmed to us that Adam Voges will still be available to represent Middlesex for the first four LV= County Championship matches of the English domestic season, before he joins up with the Australian Test squad for their tour to the West Indies in June.
“The club as always will make a formal announcement of Adam's replacement when contracts are finalised and signed.”
Another Australia squad member who has signed to play county cricket is Peter Siddle.
The fast bowler is contracted to Lancashire for the first four months of the season, which he will no longer be able to honour in full.
Lancashire’s cricket director and head coach Ashley Giles said: “Although it’s pretty frustrating for us we are over the moon for Peter.
“When you sign an international bowler of his calibre there is always a possibility that this will happen but we are still hopeful that Peter will be available for the start of our LV= County Championship campaign. The hunt for a replacement begins now.”
Other notable call-ups to Australia’s squad are leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, the leading wicket-taker in this winter’s Shield, and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, who makes a Test party for the first time and will be understudy to Brad Haddin.
Perhaps the most notable omission is all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, whose World Cup heroics were not enough to earn him a place.
The 26-year-old all-rounder was a stand-out performer during Australia's run to the final and victory over fellow co-hosts New Zealand.
One-day internationals specialist Maxwell, named in the International Cricket Council's team of the tournament following Sunday's triumph at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scored only 41 runs and failed to take a wicket against Pakistan in his last Test appearance for the Baggy Green back in October.
While fast bowler Ryan Harris is included, he will remain in Australia throughout the tour of the Caribbean, which begins in Dominica on June 5, as he anticipates the birth of his first child.
After the second Test in Jamaica - scheduled to conclude on June 17 - he will travel to the United Kingdom to link up with his team-mates ahead of the first Ashes Test at the SWALEC Stadium from July 8.
James Pattinson misses out due to an injured left hamstring but will be observed over the coming weeks and may become an option later in the Australian winter.
National selector Rod Marsh said: “The Test team has performed very well in recent times, but the big challenge is to do that away from home.
“We believe this squad has sufficient depth for these important Test matches against the West Indies and England and will give us the best chance of success.
“Adam Voges and Fawad Ahmed had sensational seasons at domestic level and their performances just couldn't be ignored. They thoroughly deserve their call-up and the opportunity to be a part of this squad. We believe that both can play important roles in the side if required.
“Adam had one of the great seasons in Sheffield Shield history. He is an experienced player and quality character who will add talent and leadership to the touring party.
“Fawad has worked incredibly hard on his game and has demonstrated throughout the season that he can be a consistent wicket-taker.
“Peter Nevill has been on our radar for some time and deserves his opportunity through weight of runs and performances behind the stumps. He has also demonstrated impressive leadership qualities which have caught our eye.”
Also on the plane departing for the West Indies on May 19 are skipper Michael Clarke and his vice-captain Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon.
Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Rogers, Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Shane Watson complete the selection.
Australia's Test squad for the tour of the West Indies and subsequent Investec Ashes series against England: Michael Clarke (captain), Steven Smith (vice-captain), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris*, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.
*Harris will miss the tour of the West Indies due to the birth of his first child.