🔗 Share this article

The phase for before the Ashes banter and selection guesses is almost over after Australia revealed a 15-member team to take on the English side in the first Test. The expanded group for the initial game indicates the requirement for cool temperaments during the intense Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the first time instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining new players being two pace replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their possible impact on the series beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is once again selected as a substitute following being a regular presence in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining front-line attackers confronting a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to continue his recent success to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in Australia has emerged as a object for the opposition for his modest performances during the previous series as much as for his calm nature off the pitch. However the veteran has not taken 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a force at this level and ought to embrace the uncommon opportunity to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the intense cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his role in a memorable moment when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The veteran is currently a much more assured batter if required to lift the run-rate or support the lower-order with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the periphery of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is back following claiming a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is currently possible as Cummins is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The acclaimed player had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his career despite fitness issues, and the moment has arrived for him to make a significant contribution to a pivotal series. The youngster was the pick of the top-order players while batting at first drop in difficult conditions in the West Indies but could be preferred in the order to make sure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be picked as a genuine all-rounder in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to deliver more spells during the series, could be decided in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent seamer is at the height of his abilities after carrying the white-ball bowling and getting ready for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and touch of swing whether off the seam or swing, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his positive approach and propensity to clobber big runs as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests demonstrate his talents, while the 31-year-old has a ability of taking a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batsman when hitting a century at more than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most comfortable playing in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while captaining the team in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which could fit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid demands for a changing of the guard at the opening position after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. But following being one of many batters failing to handle the Indian the paceman previously, the 38-year-old requires a strong beginning against the English fast-bowling attack in what might be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to feature in Perth. His outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight innings might give the selectors the confidence to support him to bat first if required alongside the opener, though the batsman is probably to trouble England when playing at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his absence as his dismissal efforts after a muscle problem in the second match helped change the contest when the team toured England in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he hoped for against India with just a modest haul last summer but bounced back to be key to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will take over to lead the side till C