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The phase for pre-Ashes talk and selection guesses is practically finished following Australia revealed a 15-player squad to take on the English side in the first Test. The larger lineup for the first match indicates the requirement for calm heads during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald included for the maiden appearance instead of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman hitting stride and the only other new members being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way each player (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive style, with a rating out of five reflecting their potential influence on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran fast bowler is once again relied upon as a back-up following being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return still unclear, and the other front-line attackers confronting a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his recent success to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in Australia has become a object for England for his unflattering performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his reserved demeanor away from the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his most recent Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a force at international cricket and should seize the rare opportunity to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is back in the simmering atmosphere of an contest hoping to impress with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a unforgettable moment when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a far more assured batter whether needed to accelerate or support the tail with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the fringes of the national team across recent matches and is returning after taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the final – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is now within reach while Cummins is sidelined and the key quicks prepare for a demanding five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been identified for the national side from an early stage in his career even amid fitness issues, and the moment has arrived for him to deliver a significant contribution to a high-stakes series. The youngster was the standout of the batting players while coming in at first drop in difficult conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred lower down to make sure he can also support the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or might have to be relied upon to bowl more spells later in the series, could be determined in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s steady discipline, and touch of movement whether it be off the seam or swing, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring concern if Hazlewood can play four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is vital to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his aggressive approach and habit to clobber huge scores as the stakes increase. A couple of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the last time England toured for a full series highlight his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a breakthrough dismissal with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the squad demonstrated that he should also be viewed as a specialist batsman when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable batting in the middle-order though he has shown while leading the team in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which could fit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order following tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. But following being one of many batsmen failing to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the veteran needs a good start against the English pace attack in what might be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place again into the national team – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the selectors the confidence to support him to open if needed with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped turn the contest when Australia toured the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he hoped for against the Indian team with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be key to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the team till C