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The period for before the Ashes exchanges and selection guesses is practically finished after the Australian team unveiled a 15-player squad to take on England in the Perth Test. The expanded squad for the initial game points to the necessity for cool heads during the intense Ashes series, with the newcomer selected for the debut instead of fiery opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the remaining uncapped members being a pair of pace reserves, there is a recognizable feel to the squad even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Below is how every member (listed in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five showing their possible influence on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is again trusted as a back-up following being a consistent member in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. As the captain's comeback remaining unknown, and the other main attackers confronting a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to continue his good form to remain in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

A key seamer in Australia has turned into a target for the opposition for his unflattering returns during the previous series as much as for his quiet personality off the field. However the veteran has claimed 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without being a threat at the top level and ought to embrace the unique chance to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The veteran is now a much more confident batsman whether required to accelerate or guide the lower-order with a game-changing contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the periphery of the Australian side during the last few matches and is back following claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is now possible as Cummins is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the national side from early in his career even amid injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to deliver a significant impact to a high-stakes contest. The youngster was the best of the top-order batters while coming in at first drop in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be preferred in the order to ensure he can also assist the bowling unit. If he can realistically be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells during the campaign, could be determined in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent pace bowler is at the height of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and getting ready for the contest during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s steady line and length, and hint of swing whether off the seam or in the air, is certain to Test the England's aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring question whether Hazlewood can play four or perhaps as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to Australia’s hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his positive approach and habit to score massive scores as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the similar the last time England visited for a full series demonstrate his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second keeper in the squad proved that he should additionally be considered as a pure batter when hitting a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order though he has shown while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which might fit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The experienced remains despite calls for a new blood at the top of the order following tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. However after being one of many batters unable to deal with the Indian the paceman previously, the 38-year-old requires a good start against the English pace cartel in what could be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide himself on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has put a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to feature in Perth. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if required with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is more likely to trouble England when playing at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped change the contest when Australia visited England in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against India with only a modest haul last summer but recovered to be vital to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to lead the side until C