Adam Voges: The 35-Year-Old 'Youngster' in Australia's Ashes Squad

Matches - 163, Runs - 11051, Average - 45.85, Hundreds - 26

That's a pretty impressive domestic curriculum vitae for any cricketer in the world. If you're such a prolific scorer at the domestic level, you surely must have the ingredients to compete at the international circuit.

Not if you're an Australian.

Brad Hodge's career never saw the heights it should have. Michael Hussey got his Test cap at the age of 32 and now at 35, Adam Voges is set to make his Ashes debut. (1st Ashes Test Preview)

Adam Voges of Western Australia have featured for Australia A, Hampshire, Jamaica Tallawahs, Melbourne Stars, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Perth Scorchers, Rajasthan Royals and Western Australia. However, for the Australian national team, his participation is limited to two Tests, 31 ODIs and seven T20Is. (Also read: Can England avenge last summer's annihilation? | Starc promises no respite for England | Cardiff ready for harsh spotlight of 1st Ashes Test)

Finally, this season, Voges made his debut against the West Indies and has been handed the number five batting position for the Baggy Greens.

What took such a prolific performer so long to break into the Australian outfit?

"If I had the answer to that I've been here 10 years ago," Voges said, "The Australian team is a tough team to get into so I had to consistently make runs at first-class level."

However, the consistency hasn't always been there and by his own admission, "probably until the last two or three years I wasn't as consistent as I would have liked to have been."

But last season things changed for the man hailing from Perth. Former Aussie opener Justin Langer took over as the coach of Western Australia and Voges scored 1,358 runs at an average of 104.

Surely, he couldn't have been overlooked anymore. Even if it meant axing someone like Shaun Marsh.

More than the runs though, Voges' inclusion highlights Australia's struggle of fixing the leak in the heart of their middle-order. Since the retirement of Mike Hussey, Australia have failed to bolt the gaping hole the left-hander left.

George Bailey couldn't live up to the expectations, Steve Smith had to be pushed up the order after Shane Watson's struggles at number three and Shaun Marsh just couldn't get his act together.

Australia needed experience and Voges brought in heap loads of it.

Voges has enormous experience of County cricket and he says, "I've got no doubt that county cricket has made me a better player." The rigorous stint with Hampshire, Middlesex and Nottinghamshire made this right-hander a must pick for Darren Lehmann.

"I think having to deal with different conditions, a different ball, different types of bowling, has over the years improved my defensive technique."

Australia have the rampaging David Warner up top, the free-scoring Smith at three, the class of Michael Clarke at four but they needed the security of a batsman who can hold fort when the flamboyance falls apart.

Chris Rogers did that for a while but playing his last series, the left-hander isn't in the best of touch. Lehmann picked Rodgers when Australia's new and young openers failed to live up to their hypes and boy, wasn't he a good choice.

Now, the 'Dad's Army' has a newbie in 35-year-old Voges.

Will this be another Boof masterstroke?