Mitchell Marsh included in 17-man Australian Ashes squad with Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw

Australia hasn’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001 and will take 11 of the players who drew the 2019 series back this year.

England’s Stuart Broad destroyed David Warner in the 2019 Ashes (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw have both been included in a 17-man Ashes squad to keep pressure on veteran opener David Warner as Australia looks to end a two-decade series winning drought in England.

All-rounder Mitch Marsh, who took seven wickets at The Oval in 2019, has also been included in the squad ahead of Michael Neser to add bowling strength to the line-up.

Warner has been picked for his fourth Ashes tour despite the opener averaging just 9.5 in 2019 and his 95 runs for the series was the lowest return of any opening batter in any five-Test series in history.

He also also scored just one century in his past 32 Test innings, his memorable double-century against South Africa at the MCG last December .

The squad has been picked for the first two Tests, with selectors to re-evaluate after the second clash at Lord‘s.

Australia will also play the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval before the Ashes, are not required to name a final squad of 15 for the WTC final until May 28.

Warner, who averages just 26 in Tests in England, will play in the Test Championship final.

“The World Test Championship is the culmination of more than two years of consistent performance at Test level by the team and the individuals involved, leading into an Ashes series which is always highly anticipated,” national selection chief George Bailey said.

Australian batsman Marcus Harris (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“The UK is a very different assignment from our most recent tour of India and some of the changes are based upon the conditions we are anticipating

“Marcus (Harris), Josh (Inglis, reserve keeper) and Mitch (Marsh) return to the squad and will provide valuable depth and flexibility within their respective skillsets.

“We see value in revisiting the squad following the second Ashes Test given the short turnaround between the WTC final and the first Ashes Test, along with the length of the tour,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.

Harris earned his Ashes nod ahead of Cameron Bancroft, who played the opening two Tests in the 2019 series and was the leading run-scorer in this summer‘s Sheffield Shield with 945 at an average of 59.06.

Renshaw maintained his spot having played against both South Africa and India in recent series.

The standing of Harris in the Test pecking order as the most likely next-man in was reinforced when he was handed a national contract, ahead of both Bancroft and Renshaw, despite not playing for Australia for 15 months.

Harris played three Tests in 2019, with a highest score of 19, in a series during which all opening batters struggled.

Spin sensation Todd Murphy has been picked as the second spinner, ahead of left-armer Matt Kuhnemann who bowled county side Durham to victory last weekend.

Captain Pat Cummins will lead a pace attack including Josh Hazlewood, who has been backed to return from injury, Mitch Starc and Scott Boland

“Marcus, Josh and Mitch return to the squad and provide valuable depth and flexibility within their respective skill-sets,” Bailey said.

England captain Ben Stokes last week declared he’s ordered “flat, fast” wickets to help his team’s “Bazball” style which has netted them win in nine of their last 11 Tests.

Pat Cummins and George Bailey. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIAN ASHES SQUAD

Batsmen: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw.

All-rounders: Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh

Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy.

Keepers: Alex Carey, Josh Inglis.

Originally published as Mitchell Marsh included in 17-man Australian Ashes squad with Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw