'Very disappointed': Aussie cricket greats confused by Ashes selections

The likes of Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Brad Hodge and Mark Taylor have all been left scratching their heads after Australia named their 17-man squad for the upcoming Ashes series.

Alex Carey’s snub, coming off the back of a stellar series of performances at the Cricket World Cup, had Warne and Waugh up in arms.

Similarly impressive performances from the likes of Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson, albeit at lower levels, also raised questions for the quartet of former players as to why they had failed to secure a spot in the squad.

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Chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, described Carey’s omission as ‘very tough on Alex’, but on social media, neither Waugh or Warne was buying it.

“Very surprised/disappointed that Carey didn’t make the Aussie squad,” Warne wrote on Twitter.

Waugh was similarly surprised by Carey’s snub, taking to Twitter to express his disapproval.

“For me Alex missing the squad is the biggest shock particularly after his batting during the World Cup and being the second best gloveman,” Waugh said.

No second wicketkeeper has been selected in the 17-man squad, although the likes of Matt Wade and Cameron Bancroft could fill in should Tim Paine be injured during the series.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports, Taylor said he was sad neither Burns or Patterson could get a look in, despite good form.

“I was disappointed Kurtis Patterson didn’t make the squad. You can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for both him and (Joe) Burns.” Taylor said.

“It’s a sign of the times. They are picking on recent form rather than their last test matches, and I guess you could say that Bancroft, (Marnus) Labuschagne, and Wade won that battle of the batsmen.”

‘Tough call’: Selectors defend Carey snub

"A very tough call on Alex," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.

"He's been in very good form, as we saw in the World Cup.

"We know in the short term if anything was to happen to Tim Paine, either during a game or what have you, we have two people in that squad who can cover.

"But if it were to be a long-term (issue) that's where Alex would come in. He's still in the country and we'd have no hesitation calling him in."

Carey could make his Sussex debut as early as Sunday, when they face Somerset in Taunton.

The other pressing issue that would be created by any setback for Paine is picking the nation's 47th Test captain.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head remain vice-captains, having performed the job during Australia's previous Test series.

Mitch Marsh and Josh Hazlewood, who failed to face Sri Lanka in that series because of form and fitness woes respectively, were named joint vice-captains last year but both no longer hold official leadership titles.

"If anything were to happen to Tim on a day, we would probably have to make a call on that. At this stage possibly it would be Pat Cummins," Hohns said.

"But you can't hold me to that because we would make a call depending on who's playing. Pat's a fast bowler. As I've suggested before, fast bowlers may not play every game.

"When we decided to go with the two vice-captains it was made reasonably clear that we weren't anointing anybody as the next captain. It was more to help Tim Paine behind the scenes."

WITH AAP