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The period for before the Ashes talk and squad speculation is nearly done following Australia revealed a 15-man team to confront England in the Perth Test. The expanded group for the initial game indicates the requirement for calm temperaments during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald named for the debut instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman finding form and the remaining uncapped members being two pace replacements, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is the way each member (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball style, with a star rating showing their possible impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned seamer is once again relied upon as a back-up after being a consistent presence in the white-ball sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining unknown, and the remaining front-line attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the veteran will aim to maintain his good form to stay in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in the team has become a target for England for his unflattering returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his quiet personality off the field. Yet the 36-year-old has secured 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – without proving to be a threat at this level and should welcome the unique chance to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is returning in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is currently a considerably more assured batter whether required to score quickly or guide the tail with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the edges of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is back after taking a solid haul – including eleven in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An international debut is currently attainable as the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been earmarked for the national side from early in his career despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a important impact to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the best of the batting players while batting at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to ensure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be trusted to bowl more spells during the series, might be determined in the domestic round soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the height of his abilities following carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and hint of movement whether it be seam movement or swing, is certain to Test the England's front foot approach to scoring, with the enduring question if he can play four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is crucial to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative up to England with his positive approach and tendency to hit huge scores as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against India last summer, and the same the last time the English visited for a full series demonstrate his skills, while the player has a talent of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team showed that he must also be viewed as a pure batter when hitting a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining Australia in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which might fit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays despite calls for a transition at the opening position after strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. However after being among several batters failing to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old needs a good start against the English pace attack in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped behind him to force his way back into the national team – and certainly the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight knocks could provide the selectors the assurance to back him to open if required with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to worry the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when the team toured the UK in 2023. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be key to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will take over to captain the side till C