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The time for before the Ashes banter and squad guesses is nearly over following the Australian team unveiled a 15-player squad to face the English side in the first Test. This extended lineup for the first match points to the necessity for calm minds during the fiery contest, with the newcomer selected for the debut replacing aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the only other uncapped members being two fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball bravado, with a star rating showing their likely influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is again trusted as a substitute after being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. As Cummins's return still unclear, and the other front-line bowlers dealing with a tough schedule, the veteran will hope to maintain his strong performances to remain in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in Australia has turned into a focus for England for his moderate returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his reserved demeanor away from the field. Yet the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – without proving to be a danger at international cricket and should seize the rare chance to begin a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his role in a memorable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more confident batsman if required to lift the run-rate or support the lower-order with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state fast bowler has been on the fringes of the national team during the last few matches and is back following claiming 33 wickets – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is currently attainable while Cummins is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising player had been targeted for the Test team from an early stage in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the time has come for him to deliver a important contribution to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at first drop in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to ensure he can additionally support the bowling unit. If Green can realistically be picked as a true bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to bowl bulk overs later in the series, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate seamer is at the height of his abilities after leading the white-ball attack and getting ready for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and hint of swing whether seam movement or in the air, is sure to challenge the tourists’ front foot method to scoring, with the persistent question whether he can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batter is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his aggressive intent and tendency to hit huge scores as the stakes rise. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for a full series demonstrate his talents, while the 31-year-old has a ability of taking a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the team proved that he must also be viewed as a pure batter when pummelling 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-order though he has shown while captaining Australia in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which could suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains even amid calls for a transition at the opening position after strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. However after being among several batters failing to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the veteran needs a positive start against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call himself on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. His exceptional performance with five hundreds in his recent innings could provide the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if needed with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to worry the opposition when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his absence as his dismissal performances following a muscle problem in the second match contributed to change the series when the team visited England in the last series. The veteran did not have the home campaign he would have wanted against India with just nine wickets previously but bounced back to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will take over to lead the side until C