Australian Test selectors have opted for two standout Sheffield Shield performers over a pair of World Cup winners as they attempt to win the Ashes on English soil for the first time in 14 years.

Pakistani-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed and batsman Adam Voges, who topped the Shield bowling and batting averages respectively, have been summoned into Australia's squad for Test tours of the West Indies and England.

But there was no space for the World Cup final's man of the match James Faulkner or Glenn Maxwell, and incumbent Test No 6 Joe Burns.

NSW wicketkeeper Peter Nevill has been named as Brad Haddin's back-up while batsman Shaun Marsh gets another crack at Test cricket after being named in the 17-man squad.

Peter Siddle is also back after missing the bulk of Australia's 4-0 rout of India this summer.

Ahmed has been rewarded for taking 48 wickets across a stellar domestic summer, including 8-89 in the Shield final.

And Voges, at age 35, was named after scoring 1358 runs at an average of 104.46 for Western Australia.

National selection chairman Rod Marsh said the feats of Ahmed and Voges could not be ignored.

"I looked at [Voges] on four or five occasions ... and I thought 'I don't know how anyone's going to get this bloke out', he was that dominant," he said.

"Fawad has worked incredibly hard on his game and has demonstrated throughout the season that he can be a consistent wicket-taker."

Burns will travel to India with Australia A under the captaincy of Usman Khawaja, along with Ashton Agar, Maxwell, Steven O'Keefe and Patrick Cummins.

Faulkner was not named for either tour and Marsh cast an air of mystery over the Tasmanian's plans for the Australian winter.

"James desperately needs some red ball cricket [and] it's not his fault he hasn't played any," he said.

"We've got hopeful plans that I can't reveal right now for Jimmy Faulkner. He'll be right."

Paceman Ryan Harris will miss the two-Test series in the West Indies starting on June 5 to remain in Australia as his partner gives birth.

Harris will join the Test squad for the five-Test Ashes series which starts in England on July 8.

Ahmed and Voges have been selected despite missing out on Cricket Australia (CA) contracts for the 2015-16 season.

CA announced on Tuesday it had contracted 19 players, one more than last season, with paceman Siddle missing a deal but being named for the Test tours.

Emerging fast bowlers Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh won contracts.

Dropping off the contract list were Siddle and deceased batsman Phillip Hughes.

Australian Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith (vice- capt), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris (UK only), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson. - AAP