Australia have broken with tradition by choosing two leg-spinners in a 16-man squad for this year's Ashes tour of England.

In recent tours to England, the selectors opted for at least one finger spinner but both Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne have been selected this time in the hope of exposing the home side's vulnerability to wrist-spin.

Australia have not chosen two leg-spinners for an Ashes tour since 1953 and while Warne, as world record holder for test wickets, is an automatic choice, chairman Trevor Hohns said MacGill deserved his spot after being overlooked last time.

Australia's tour starts in mid-June with a one-day triangular series against England and Bangladesh followed by another three-match limited overs series against England.

The first of five Ashes tests gets underway at Lord's on July 21 and although Australia have won the past eight series, England have climbed up to second place in the world test rankings in the last 12 months.

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