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The period for before the Ashes banter and squad predictions is practically finished following the Australian team unveiled a 15-member team to face the English side in the first Test. The expanded squad for the series opener suggests the requirement for calm heads during the fiery Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald included for the debut instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining uncapped members being two pace reserves, there is a known quality to the selection even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way each player (presented in alphabetical order) will confront the aggressive bravado, with a rating out of five reflecting their possible influence on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is again trusted as a reserve following being a frequent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the other key bowlers confronting a tough fixture list, the veteran will want to sustain his good form to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in the team has become a focus for the opposition for his moderate returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his calm personality away from the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a force at the top level and ought to seize the uncommon chance to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The preferred gloveman is back in the intense cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to impress with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his role in a unforgettable incident when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in 2023. The veteran is currently a considerably more confident batter if required to accelerate or help steer the lower-order with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the fringes of the Australian side across recent matches and is back after taking a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An international debut is currently within reach as the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a intense five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been identified for the Test team from early in his journey despite fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a major contribution to a crucial contest. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but might be selected in the order to ensure he can also support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be selected as a true all-rounder in Perth, or might have to be relied upon to bowl more spells during the series, might be determined in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent seamer is at the height of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and getting ready for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s steady line and length, and hint of movement whether off the seam or in the air, is sure to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the ongoing question if he can play four or perhaps as many as five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and habit to clobber huge runs as the pressure increase. A couple of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for a full series demonstrate his abilities, while the player has a ability of taking a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team proved that he must also be considered as a specialist batsman when hitting a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most comfortable batting in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while leading Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid calls for a new blood at the top of the order following tightening his grip on the opening spot with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. However after being one of many batters failing to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a good start against the English pace cartel in what might be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked Test batter has put a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. His exceptional form with five hundreds in his last eight knocks might provide the selectors the assurance to support him to open if needed with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to worry England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his absence as his dismissal performances following a muscle problem in the second match contributed to turn the series when Australia visited the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with just a modest haul previously but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

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