Ball-tampering culprits Warner, Smith, Bancroft included in Australia's Ashes squad

Former Australia skipper Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are included in the Ashes squad that will travel to England. The three players were banned for ball-tampering last year in March. Warner and Smith were handed over a 12 months ban while Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.

Tim Paine will lead the Australian squad in the Ashes as announced by Cricket Australia today. The squad includes World Cup 2019 players like Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh.

The five-match Test series starts from August 1 in Birmingham. The Test series will be a part of the inaugural ICC Test Championship. Australia will look to win the Ashes series in England for the first time since 2011.

Australia’s squad for the Ashes:

Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.