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The phase for before the Ashes banter and squad predictions is nearly done after Australia announced a 15-man squad to confront the English side in the Perth Test. This extended lineup for the first match indicates the requirement for calm minds during the fiery Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald selected for the maiden appearance instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other uncapped members being a pair of pace replacements, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way each member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the aggressive bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their potential influence on the series starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is once more trusted as a reserve after being a regular member in the white-ball sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining main attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will want to maintain his recent success to remain in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best fast bowler in Australia has turned into a object for the opposition for his unflattering returns during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his calm personality off the field. Yet the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a danger at this level and ought to seize the uncommon chance to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is returning in the high-pressure cauldron of an contest aiming to make his mark with the batting and his keeping, 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 currently a considerably more confident batter whether required to score quickly or support the tail with a match-turning knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the fringes of the Australian side across recent Test series and is back following claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is now possible while the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been identified for the national side from early in his career even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a important impact to a high-stakes contest. The youngster was the best of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but could be preferred lower down to ensure he can additionally support the bowling unit. Whether Green can realistically be selected as a true bowling option in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to bowl bulk overs later in the series, might be decided in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the height of his abilities following carrying the limited-overs bowling and fine-tuning for the contest during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and touch of seam whether seam movement or swing, is sure to Test the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is critical to Australia’s chances of taking the game up to England with his attacking approach and tendency to clobber huge runs as the pressure rise. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests demonstrate his skills, while the player has a knack of finding a key dismissal with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he should also be viewed as a pure batsman when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while leading Australia in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which might suit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays despite calls for a transition at the top of the order after tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in Sri Lanka recently. Yet after being among several batsmen unable to handle India’s the paceman last summer, the veteran requires a good beginning against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his final campaign to make sure he can make the call personally on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked batsman has left behind a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to force his way back into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to play in the first Test. Labuschagne exceptional form with five hundreds in his last eight innings might give the selectors the assurance to support him to open if needed alongside Khawaja, though the batsman is more likely to worry the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his absence as his dismissal efforts after a calf injury in the second match helped change the series when the team toured England in 2023. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against India with just a modest haul last summer but recovered to be vital to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the team till C