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The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and selection speculation is practically done after the Australian team announced a 15-member team to take on the English side in the Perth Test. This extended lineup for the series opener indicates the need for calm minds during the intense battle, with Jake Weatherald selected for the first time in place of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining new members being two fast bowling reserves, there is a recognizable feel to the team even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way each member (listed in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a star rating indicating their likely effect on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned seamer is again trusted as a substitute after being a consistent member in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining uncertain, and the other main bowlers dealing with a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his good form to remain in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in the team has become a object for the opposition for his moderate returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his calm personality off the pitch. Yet the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without being a threat at international cricket and should welcome the rare chance to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an battle hoping to impress with the bat and his gloves, as much as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in 2023. The veteran is now a much more composed batsman whether needed to accelerate or guide the tail with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the fringes of the national team across the last few Test series and is returning following taking a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is currently attainable while the captain is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been earmarked for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite fitness issues, and the time has come for him to make a major contribution to a pivotal series. The youngster was the best of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be selected lower down to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver more spells later in the series, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield match soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the height of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs attack and getting ready for the contest during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and hint of swing whether seam movement or swing, is bound to challenge the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the ongoing question whether he can feature in four or perhaps even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is crucial to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his attacking intent and habit to hit massive runs as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the similar the previous occasion England visited for five Tests point to his skills, while the player has a knack of taking a breakthrough dismissal with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a specialist batsman when scoring a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order although he has shown while captaining Australia in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which might suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order following strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. But following being among several batters unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a positive start against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to ensure he can decide himself on the time to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to play in the first Test. His outstanding performance with five centuries in his last eight innings might give the selectors the assurance to support him to bat first if required with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition 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 contributed to change the series when the team toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets last summer but recovered to be critical 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 team until C