Batsman Steve Smith has been added to the Australian Ashes squad, while spinner Fawad Ahmed has been left out.

The National Selection Panel advised that NSW middle-order player Smith would join the squad until at least the beginning of the second Test, where it will be reviewed as to whether he will stay on with the team for the remaining matches against England or head to South Africa to captain Australia A.Pakistan-born asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed will return home to Australia on Monday as he continues with his citizenship process. However, there is still the option for selectors to add another spinner to the squad for the final four Tests.Smith has been brought in as cover for the batting line-up, while young spinner Ashton Agar will stay on until the second Test as a development player.Michael Clarke is still under an injury cloud with his back and David Warner is unable to play until the first Test due to suspension, and national selector John Inverarity said it was logical to bring in another batsman.If Michael (Clarke's) back went again, we'd be short of a batsman. So it was obvious we needed to bring another batsman in.