Ricky Ponting has predicted some surprise inclusions in the Australian squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the Ashes in England from the one that is currently touring India.

Australia secured a place in the WTC final at The Oval in June following their nine-wicket win against India in the third Test in Indore recently.

The spin-friendly tracks in India had prompted Australia to pick a squad suited to the subcontinent’s conditions. They included Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb — two supposedly good players of spin — besides a clutch of spinners, including Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, for the series.

Ponting feels that with the English conditions not expected to be conducive to spinners, the selectors could opt for rookie pacers Lance Morris and Aaron Hardie for the two-month tour of England.

“Lance Morris is part of that (India) squad and maybe someone like Aaron Hardie (could be a surprise inclusion),” Ponting told ICC Review on Wednesday.

He felt that if all-rounder Mitchell Marsh returns to full fitness, he could get the nod ahead of Hardie.

On whether Renshaw and Handscomb, two good players of spin, will be in the England-bound squad, Ponting said: “When you think about the different conditions in the UK, then I wouldn’t be surprised if neither of those guys are on that tour.”