Kent captain James Tredwell has been overlooked for a place in the England squad for this winter’s Ashes tour Down Under.

The 31-year-old had hoped to cement his place as his country’s second spinner behind Graeme Swann, however after a season of struggles with the red-ball, which has seen him take just 13 First Class wickets at an average of more than 50, he has been overlooked for a place in the 17-man squad in favour of Monty Panesar.

Former Kent batsman Michael Carberry has been named in the squad along with the uncapped Warwickshire fast-bowler Boyd Rankin, Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance and Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Carberry’s only previous Test appearance came in Bangladesh in 2010 - the same series in which Tredwell made his only Test appearance.

Tredwell has gone on to make 24 ODI appearances for England, taking 36 wickets, and seven T20 appearances, including a rain-hit match as skipper earlier this summer, claiming three scalps.

The New Romney ace did prove expensive in the ODI series against Australia earlier this month, with the Australians targeting his off-spin on their way to a 2-1 series victory.

Panesar has 48 Test appearances over a seven-year England career but has not featured since the tour to New Zealand at the start of the year - a tour to which Tredwell was summoned as back-up, but didn’t feature.

Alastair Cook will skipper the England side, seeking a fourth Ashes series victory in a row, a feat not achieved by an England team since 1890.

England squad: Alastair Cook (Essex) (Capt), Matt Prior (Sussex) (VC), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Monty Panesar (Sussex/Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).