Australian cricket fans struggling to get enthused for the post-Ashes limited-overs series in England have been given a key reason to do so: the long-awaited chance of an Australian pace attack comprising Mitch Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins. 
New one-day captain Steve Smith is one of only five Test squad members who will stay on after the Ashes for five one-dayers against England, complemented by a Twenty20 and a one-dayer against Ireland. The others are Starc, Shane Watson, Mitch Marsh and David Warner.
World Cup-winning pacemen Mitch Johnson and Josh Hazlewood will return to Australia to rest. No vice-captain to Smith has been named, with the appointment of a full-time deputy yet to be ratified by the Cricket Australia board.
Matthew Wade has been given the first chance to succeed Brad Haddin as limited-overs wicketkeeper. Chief selector Rod Marsh predicted Victoria captain Wade would "step up nicely into the position".
The selection bolters in the squad are Joe Burns, who has been chosen ahead of his Queensland teammate Usman Khawaja for the chance to open in place of the injured Aaron Finch (foot), and Marcus Stoinis, an all-rounder given an opportunity due to James Faulkner being stood down due to his recent drink-driving offence.
Ashton Agar has also seemingly taken over from from Xavier Doherty as the preferred specialist one-day spinner. Agar has not played for Australia since his dramatic introduction to Tests at the start of the 2013 Ashes. Now 21, the lanky finger-spinner enjoyed a strong finish to the Sheffield Shield season with Western Australia and earlier this week claimed 5-39 for Australia A in Chennai against India A.
Marsh described the squad as having "a few fresh faces in it as well as some experienced players that will provide us with the right balance".
Squad: Steve Smith (c), Ashton Agar, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitch Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron Boyce (T20I only)