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The phase for before the Ashes talk and selection speculation is almost done after the Australian team unveiled a 15-player lineup to confront England in the Perth Test. The larger group for the first match points to the necessity for calm heads during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald named for the maiden appearance in place of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman finding form and the only other new members being two pace backups, there is a recognizable feel to the selection even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Below is how every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five showing their likely impact on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is again trusted as a substitute after being a frequent member in the white-ball sides in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unknown, and the other main attackers confronting a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to continue his recent success to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key fast bowler in the team has become a focus for the opposition for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his reserved nature off the field. But the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – and has being a threat at this level and can welcome the rare chance to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is back in the simmering atmosphere of an Ashes series aiming to impress with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable moment when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more confident batsman whether required to lift the run-rate or help steer the lower-order with a game-changing contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side across the last few matches and is returning after claiming a solid haul – including 11 in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An first appearance is currently attainable while Cummins is injured and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to make a important contribution to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order batters while batting at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the West Indies but could be selected in the order to ensure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. Whether he can feasibly be picked as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs later in the campaign, could be decided in the domestic round soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic fast bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s steady accuracy, and hint of swing whether seam movement or swing, is bound to Test the England's front foot approach to scoring, with the ongoing question whether he can feature in four or perhaps even all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to England with his attacking intent and habit to score massive scores as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the similar the last time the English toured for a full series point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a talent of taking a key dismissal with his occasional but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he should additionally be considered as a pure batsman when hitting a hundred at more than a quick rate on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home batting in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which could fit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned stays despite calls for a transition at the top of the order after strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. But following being one of many batsmen unable to deal with India’s the paceman previously, the veteran needs a strong start against England’s pace cartel in what might be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has put a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to play in the first Test. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks might provide the team management the assurance to back him to open if required with the opener, although the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when playing 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 calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the series when Australia visited the UK in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with just nine wickets last summer but recovered to be vital to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will take over to lead the team until C