Changes were inevitable - McGrath

Glenn McGrath believes the axing of established players after the failure to retain the Ashes was inevitable as the Australia selectors made several changes to the squad for the Super Series against the World XI in October.

McGrath, who was injured for the two defeats at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, told the ABC Sport website: "It was always going to be the possible outcome that a few guys might lose their positions. It's the way the selectors have gone, obviously they've got a tough job to do and we'll see what happens over the next few months."

Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz have been left out of both Australia squads for the three one-day Super Series internationals and the six-day Test match after poor performances in the Ashes. Matthew Hayden has been dropped from the one-day team while Damien Martyn has lost his Test place.

Merv Hughes, the selector, denied Martyn had been made a scapegoat for the Ashes loss. "I don't think he's been made a scapegoat, I think his performances in England would suggest a change was needed," he said. "Player performances weren't to the standard that we've come to expect and there's been a couple of changes, not wholesale changes."