Fraser dropped from England squad for second Ashes Test

The 33-year-old Middlesex seamer, who has taken 56 wickets in 12 Tests this season, was omitted from the 14-man squad named Friday by the tourists.

Included in the squad for the pace-friendly WACA wicket are Dean Headley and Alex Tudor, two fast bowlers overlooked for the first Test.

Headley, 28, from Kent, has already played in 10 Tests, but the 21-year-old Tudor, from Surrey, is yet to appear at this level.

Fraser, a 44-Test campaigner, has snared 172 wickets but was disappointed when he claimed only two scalps in the drawn opening Test which ended in Brisbane earlier this week.

Batsman Graeme Hick, initially a temporary tour replacement, has also been included in the 14 because of doubts about lefthander Graham Thorpe who has back problems.

Hick joined the England squad last week after being called up amid injury worries over opener Michael Atherton.

Atherton has recovered from his back complaint and Hick was to have flown home Monday but instead could find himself starting a Test match.

England manager Graham Gooch said the team would not be finalised until Saturday morning.

The squad is:

Alec Stewart (capt), Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, John Crawley, Graeme Hick, Dominic Cork, Robert Croft, Darren Gough, Alan Mullally, Dean Headley, Alex Tudor.