Aussie trio dropped from Test squad after Ashes failure

Damien Martyn, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz paid the price for Australia’s Ashes failure Tuesday when they were axed from the Test squad to face a World XI next month.

Selectors opted to inject fresh blood into the 13-man Test squad, promoting promising all-rounder Shane Watson and batsman Brad Hodge, along with specialist spinner Stuart McGill.

Martyn, who averaged just 19.77 in the five Tests against England, becomes the latest Ashes casualty after Gillespie and Kasprowicz were dropped during the series as Australia vainly attempted a comeback.