Lancashire youngsters Jimmy Anderson and Kyle Hogg were included in the 15 to go to Adelaide with England's Academy.
Both have only a handful of first-class matches behind them but Anderson will act as first reserve if one of the Ashes bowlers breaks down.
Darren Gough, who has to prove he is fit from knee trouble, and Graham Thorpe, who has overcome domestic problems, were the key names in the squad revealed at Lord's.
Andy Flintoff, recovering from a hernia operation will be the all-rounder.
ASHES SQUAD: Nasser Hussain (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, John Crawley, Alec Stewart, James Foster, Andy Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson, Darren Gough, Andy Caddick, Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard.
Meanwhile, Nasser Hussain has pleaded with England's bosses today: "Give us a break."
And it's difficult not to sympathise with a captain who is aiming for Ashes and World Cup glory next winter after a stamina-sapping treadmill of Test and one-day international cricket.
The Aussies will be a fresh as daisies for the Ashes battle after a three-month break.
Steve Waugh has even been able to earn a few bob in county cricket while preparing for the five-match series.
But Hussain jumps on the plane to Sri Lanka on Thursday for the ICC Champions Trophy just 48 hours after completing an action-packed, back-breaking summer of seven Tests and seven one-dayers.
And, after the final clash with India had been washed out at the Oval, he said: "Some teams have three months off, and I would implore our Board to have a look at why our team gets two days.
"I'm worried about the physical and mental toll that so much cricket could cause."
Despite the ever-increasing workload, Hussain believes that England can recapture the Ashes from the world champs.
"We will never have a better chance," he insisted in the wake of the 1-1 draw with India.
"Our batsmen have clicked, especially Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, and if we can improve on our catching and get our fast bowlers fit and raring to go we will have a good tour.
"The Aussies are still the world champs. They have hammered South Africa recently and everyone else in the past, but this side is the most positive I have captained and we will go out there to play aggressive cricket.
"I'm really up for it. We have moved forward and are a very competitive, hard to beat side.
"But now we have to take a big step and start to finish other teams off."
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