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The period for pre-Ashes banter and squad guesses is nearly finished after the Australian team revealed a 15-man squad to take on the English side in the Perth Test. The larger lineup for the first match suggests the requirement for calm minds during the heated battle, with the newcomer selected for the first time instead of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the remaining inexperienced players being a pair of fast bowling replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball style, with a star rating indicating their likely effect on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned fast bowler is once again relied upon as a reserve following being a regular presence in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unknown, and the remaining main attackers facing a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will aim to maintain his strong performances to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key pace bowler in the team has become a object for the opposition for his modest returns during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his calm demeanor off the field. Yet the 36-year-old has not taken 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a threat at this level and ought to welcome the unique chance to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is now a considerably more composed batsman whether required to lift the run-rate or support the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the edges of the Australian side across recent matches and is returning following claiming a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is now within reach while the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The acclaimed all-rounder had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his career even amid injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to deliver a major impact to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order players while coming in at No 3 in difficult conditions in the Caribbean but might be preferred lower down to make sure he can additionally support the bowling unit. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to deliver bulk overs during the series, could be determined in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his powers after leading the limited-overs bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s reliable accuracy, and hint of movement whether it be off the seam or swing, is bound to Test the England's front foot approach to scoring, with the enduring question whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batter is vital to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his attacking intent and tendency to hit big runs as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests point to his talents, while the 31-year-old has a ability of finding a key dismissal with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second keeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be considered as a specialist batsman when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most at home playing in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which might suit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after strengthening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. However after being one of many batsmen failing to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a strong beginning against the English pace cartel in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on when to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor form and the disappointment of being dropped behind him to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne blistering form with five hundreds in his last eight knocks could provide the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if needed with Khawaja, although the batsman is more likely to worry the opposition when playing at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped change the contest when Australia toured England in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with just nine wickets previously but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to lead the team till C