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The phase for pre-Ashes talk and selection guesses is almost done after the Australian team announced a 15-member team to face the English side in the Perth Test. This extended squad for the initial game points to the necessity for cool heads during the intense Ashes series, with the newcomer included for the debut instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman returning to form and the remaining inexperienced members being two pace replacements, there is a recognizable feel to the squad even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive style, with a rating out of five showing their potential impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is once more trusted as a reserve after being a regular member in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. As Cummins's return still uncertain, and the remaining main bowlers dealing with a tough fixture list, the veteran will want to sustain his recent success to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best fast bowler in Australia has become a focus for the opposition for his unflattering performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his reserved nature away from the field. Yet the veteran has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has being a force at the top level and can seize the rare opportunity to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred gloveman is back in the intense atmosphere of an contest aiming to impress with the bat and his keeping, as well as for his role in a memorable incident when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a far more assured batter whether required to accelerate or help steer the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the national team during the last few Test series and is returning following claiming 33 wickets – including eleven in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An international debut is now attainable as the captain is sidelined and the key fast bowlers prepare for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been identified for the Test team from an early stage in his career despite fitness issues, and the time has come for him to deliver a important contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order players while coming in at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be preferred in the order to make sure he can also support the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be trusted to bowl more spells later in the campaign, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following carrying the limited-overs bowling and fine-tuning for the contest during games against India. The veteran’s steady line and length, and hint of swing whether seam movement or in the air, is bound to challenge the tourists’ front foot method to scoring, with the ongoing question if he can play four or perhaps as many as five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is critical to Australia’s hopes of taking the game against England with his positive approach and habit to clobber big runs as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests demonstrate his abilities, while the player has a talent of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a specialist batter when hitting a hundred at better than a quick rate on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. However after being among several batters failing to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old requires a good beginning against the English pace attack in what could be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has left behind a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the national team – and certainly the XI to feature in the first Test. His outstanding form with five centuries in his last eight innings might provide the team management the confidence to support him to open if required alongside Khawaja, although the batsman is probably to worry the opposition when playing at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match contributed to change the series when the team visited England in 2023. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he would have wanted against India with only a modest haul previously but bounced back to be critical to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the side until C