There were few surprises in the England squad for the 2002-03 Ashes series which was named today. But if you want to see the likely make-up of the team for the next Ashes tour, in 2006-07, the place to be this winter will be Adelaide. That's where the 15-man England National Academy squad will spend their time, getting some in under sergeant-major Rod Marsh, the head coach. They will be training, playing matches ... and keeping an eye on the injury list of the senior team. If anyone in the main party does break down, there will soon be an assembly-line replacement zooming down Don Bradman Drive to Adelaide Airport.

The most notable name in this year's academy intake is Alex Tudor, who had been widely expected to make the full tour. Four years ago, after all, he was one of the smash hits of the last Ashes series. But the selectors are worried about Tudor's strength and stamina. Nasser Hussain's body language also suggested he was losing faith in Tudor, so maybe a spell in the stiffs is what he needs.

Rikki Clarke and Ian Blackwell, who are both in England's belt-and-braces team for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy, are two other high-profile names in the academy line-up. It also includes two of England's brightest pace prospects, James Anderson from Lancashire and Hampshire's giant fast man Chris Tremlett, as well as Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, who is among the leading county wicket-takers this year with 62 to date.

Unsung batsmen include Darren Stevens of Leicestershire, one of the leading one-day runscorers this year, and Jim Troughton, the hard-hitting Warwickshire left-hander who has eclipsed his highly rated team-mate Ian Bell this season. Gordon Muchall, the 19-year-old Durham player who hit 254 against India Under-19s at Cardiff in July, grabs the final place.

Lancashire's Kyle Hogg, whose grandfather is the legendary West Indian spinner Sonny Ramadhin, is one of two allrounders: the other is Graham Wagg of Warwickshire, a briskish left-arm bowler with a penchant for straight sixes when he bats.

The wicketkeepers are Chris Read, who has already played Test cricket, and Glamorgan's Mark Wallace, who is tipped to do so. Their big test will come when keeping to the spinners - slow left-armer Monty Panesar, from Northants, and offspinner Gareth Batty, who has found success this year with Worcestershire, his third county, after spells with Yorkshire and Surrey.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd