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The time for before the Ashes banter and squad guesses is practically finished following the Australian team revealed a 15-player team to face the English side in the first Test. The larger lineup for the first match points to the requirement for cool heads during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald named for the maiden appearance in place of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining new members being two pace backups, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each member (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a star rating showing their potential effect on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran fast bowler is again selected as a back-up after being a consistent presence in the white-ball sides in recent years. As Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the remaining key attackers dealing with a demanding schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to sustain his recent success to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best fast bowler in Australia has become a target for the opposition for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his reserved personality off the pitch. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – without being a danger at international cricket and should welcome the uncommon opportunity to begin a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is back in the high-pressure cauldron of an contest hoping to stand out with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a much more composed batter if required to score quickly or help steer the lower-order with a decisive contribution. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the fringes of the Australian side during the last few matches and is returning after taking a solid haul – including 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An international debut is currently within reach while Cummins is injured and the key quicks 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 journey despite injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a significant contribution to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but could be preferred in the order to ensure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to deliver bulk overs during the series, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs attack and fine-tuning for the contest during games against India. The veteran’s steady line and length, and touch of movement whether seam movement or in the air, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive approach to scoring, with the enduring concern whether Hazlewood can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his positive intent and habit to hit big scores as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against India last summer, and the same the previous occasion England toured for five Tests point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a knack of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the squad proved that he should also be viewed as a specialist batsman when hitting a hundred at more than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle of the innings though he has shown while leading the team in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which could suit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran keeps hanging on despite calls for a transition at the opening position following tightening his grip on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. However following being one of many batsmen failing to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old requires a positive start against the English fast-bowling attack in what might be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on when to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has put a poor form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. Labuschagne blistering form with five centuries in his recent innings might give the team management the assurance to back him to open if needed alongside Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to worry England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

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 match contributed to change the series when the team toured England in the last series. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he hoped for against the Indian team with just nine wickets previously but bounced back to be vital to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the side till C