Australia great Adam Gilchrist has hit out at his country's cricket chiefs for leaving controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds out of their Ashes squad.

Symonds was omitted from the touring party following a troubled year on and off the field, which saw him banned from the trip to South Africa after a radio interview in which he made disparaging remarks about New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald were the all-rounders named in Ricky Ponting's Test squad, who arrive in England on Thursday. Yet after Symonds helped Deccan Chargers win the second Indian Premier League on Sunday, his team's captain Gilchrist expressed his surprise that the 33-year-old would not be involved in the Ashes.

"Andrew Symonds would be in my team," said keeper-batsman Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket early in 2008 after playing 96 Tests.

"Ever since I've played with Andrew, he's been a real team man. He's a great personality and can turn matches."

Meanwhile, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has revealed that this year's Twenty20 Champions League will be contested by 12 teams rather than eight.

The eight teams due to take part were both IPL finalists - Deccan and Bangalore - plus the Cape Cobras and Eagles from South Africa, Victoria and New South Wales from Australia and England's Twenty20 Cup finalists.

They will now be joined in India by domestic Twenty20 champions from New Zealand (Otago), Sri Lanka (Wayamba) and West Indies (Trinidad & Tobago) plus the Delhi Daredevils.

Today's fixtures - One-Day International: England v West Indies, Edgbaston (10.45am): Twenty20: Durham v Derbys, Riverside (6pm), Lancs v Yorks, Old Trafford (5.30pm), Surrey v Sussex, Brit Oval (6.30pm).