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The period for before the Ashes talk and selection guesses is nearly over after Australia unveiled a 15-player team to face the English side in the Perth Test. The larger lineup for the series opener suggests the necessity for composed heads during the fiery battle, with the newcomer named for the maiden appearance in place of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the remaining uncapped players being a pair of pace reserves, there is a known quality to the selection despite the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins. Below is the way each member (presented in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five showing their possible influence on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is again relied upon as a substitute after being a regular member in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining key attackers facing a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to sustain his strong performances to stay in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in the team has become a focus for England for his modest performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his quiet demeanor off the pitch. However the veteran has not taken 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his last Test against West Indies – without proving to be a danger at international cricket and can welcome the uncommon opportunity to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series looking to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in the last series. The veteran is currently a considerably more confident batsman whether needed to accelerate or guide the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the periphery of the Australian side across the last few matches and is back following taking a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is currently attainable while the captain is sidelined and the key fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been targeted for the Test team from an early stage in his career even amid fitness issues, and the time has come for him to make a important contribution to a high-stakes series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order players while coming in at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be preferred lower down to ensure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be picked as a true all-rounder in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to deliver bulk overs during the campaign, might be determined in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic fast bowler is at the peak of his abilities after leading the white-ball attack and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s steady line and length, and hint of movement whether off the seam or in the air, is bound to Test the England's aggressive approach to scoring, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can play four or maybe even all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to the team's hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his aggressive intent and propensity to clobber huge scores as the stakes rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the same the last time England toured for a full series demonstrate his skills, while the 31-year-old has a knack of finding a key dismissal with his occasional but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The second keeper in the squad proved that he should additionally be considered as a specialist batsman when scoring a century at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while captaining Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which might suit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid demands for a new blood at the opening position following tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. Yet after being one of many batters unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a good beginning against the English fast-bowling attack in what could be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has left behind a dismal form and the disappointment of being dropped behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to play in Perth. His outstanding performance with five centuries in his last eight innings might give the team management the assurance to support him to bat first if required with the opener, though the 31-year-old is probably to trouble England when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped change the series when the team visited England in 2023. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he hoped for against the Indian team with only a modest haul last summer but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will step in to lead the side until C