Waugh lost his place to South Australian captain Darren Lehmann after an indifferent run of form, then promptly announced he was quitting the international arena.
“Having been left out of the current Test team and the one-day team earlier this year, I feel my chances of playing for Australia at age 37 have led me to this decision,” Waugh told a news conference.
Australia’s chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, said it was a difficult decision for the four-man panel to omit Waugh after 128 Tests and more than 8,000 runs but his poor form forced their hands.
“Unfortunately the contribution of Mark hasn’t been what we would like and...in the end, probably what we would like over the last 12 months, so we thought the time appropriate,” Hohns said.
Although at 32, Lehmann is not exactly part of the new young breed, he was still an obvious choice to replace Waugh. The powerful left-hander is Australia’s all-time leading run scorer in the interstate competition and was domestic player of the year the last three seasons.
“Darren has been the next cab off the rank for the last three or four tours and it’s only natural that he warrants this opportunity,” Hohns said.
Lehmann played the last of his five Tests against England in Sydney in January 1999 but was close to being recalled after being included in the squad against Pakistan.
“I am obviously sad for Mark, who has been such a great player for Australia for so many years,” Lehmann said.
“But at the same time I am delighted and very grateful to get another chance at Test level.
“Although it’s been (almost) four years since my last Test, I never gave up hope of getting back and I thought I was close after being picked on the last two Test tours.
“I have obviously seen a lot of the English bowlers by playing for Yorkshire over the last few years and hopefully I can use that experience to our advantage in Brisbane.”
The only other change Australia’s selectors made to the side that beat Pakistan in last week’s third Test in Sharjah was the inclusion of fast bowler Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie missed that match because of a calf strain but has been recalled pending a fitness test. Brad Williams is likely to come into the squad as 12th man if he is ruled out.
Australian captain Steve Waugh led the tributes to his twin brother Mark.
Steve, who played 108 Tests alongside him, said he would miss his brother’s presence when he leads Australia on the field against England.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have played alongside my brother at Test level for the past 12 years, spanning more than 100 matches together, and it will seem very strange not to have him with us when we walk out in Brisbane,” the Australian captain said.
“Mark has been an inspiration not only to his team mates but also to a host of young players because of the way he has played the game — hard but fair and in a positive way.
“His record is an outstanding one and if he decides to continue at domestic level I am sure he can have a positive effect through passing on the knowledge and experience he has gained from more than 100 Tests and 200 One-day Internationals.”
Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland said Mark would be remembered as one of the country’s all-time greats and his contribution would be recognised during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January.
“Since his One-day International debut against Pakistan in 1988-89, Mark has been a near-permanent fixture in an Australian side that has enjoyed outstanding success.”
Squad: Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.—Reuters