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The phase for before the Ashes banter and squad predictions is practically done following the Australian team revealed a 15-man lineup to face England in the first Test. The expanded squad for the series opener points to the necessity for calm temperaments during the intense battle, with Jake Weatherald included for the first time in place of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman finding form and the only other uncapped players being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball style, with a star rating indicating their possible impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is once again relied upon as a reserve after being a consistent presence in the white-ball teams in recent years. As Cummins's return still unclear, and the remaining main bowlers facing a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will aim to continue his strong performances to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in the team has emerged as a target for England for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his reserved demeanor off the field. Yet the veteran has claimed 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – without being a force at international cricket and should seize the unique opportunity to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is returning in the intense atmosphere of an battle hoping to make his mark with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a much more confident batsman if needed to accelerate or guide the lower-order with a game-changing innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the fringes of the national team across the last few Test series and is back after claiming a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is now possible as Cummins is injured and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the national side from an early stage in his career even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a major contribution to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the standout of the batting players while batting at first drop in challenging conditions in the West Indies but could be selected lower down to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver more spells later in the series, might be determined in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent fast bowler is at the height of his powers after carrying the limited-overs bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s reliable line and length, and hint of swing whether it be off the seam or in the air, is certain to Test the England's aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing concern if Hazlewood can feature in four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his attacking approach and propensity to clobber huge scores as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against India last summer, and the same the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests point to his skills, while the player has a knack of finding a key dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he should also be considered as a specialist batsman when scoring a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could fit a regular position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced remains even amid calls for a transition at the top of the order after strengthening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent earlier this year. However after being one of many batsmen unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old needs a positive start against England’s pace attack in what might be his farewell Test series to ensure he can make the call personally on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to force his way back into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne outstanding performance with five hundreds in his recent innings could give the team management the assurance to support him to open if needed alongside Khawaja, although the batsman is probably to worry the opposition when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when Australia toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against India with only a modest haul last summer but bounced back to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to captain the team until C