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The time for before the Ashes banter and squad speculation is nearly done after the Australian team revealed a 15-man team to take on England in the Perth Test. This extended lineup for the first match suggests the requirement for cool heads during the intense Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald selected for the debut in place of fiery opener Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining uncapped players being a pair of pace backups, there is a known quality to the team even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (listed in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball bravado, with a star rating reflecting their likely effect on the series beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is once again trusted as a reserve following being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. As the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining front-line attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the veteran will hope to continue his recent success to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

A key seamer in Australia has become a target for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his reserved demeanor off the field. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a danger at this level and can embrace the rare opportunity to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his role in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a considerably more assured batsman whether required to accelerate or guide the tail with a decisive contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the fringes of the Australian side across the last few matches and is returning following claiming a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is now possible while Cummins is injured and the front-line quicks get ready for a intense five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising player had been earmarked for the national side from early in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to make a important contribution to a crucial contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting players while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to make sure he can also assist the bowling unit. Whether he can feasibly be picked as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to bowl more spells during the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent fast bowler is at the peak of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against India. The 34-year-old’s steady discipline, and hint of seam whether off the seam or swing, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing concern whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe as many as all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is critical to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against England with his aggressive approach and propensity to clobber big scores as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the similar the last time England toured for five Tests point to his abilities, while the player has a knack of finding a key wicket with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a specialist batsman when scoring a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could fit a regular position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran keeps hanging on despite calls for a new blood at the opening position after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. Yet following being one of many batters failing to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran requires a positive start against England’s pace cartel in what could be his final campaign to ensure he can decide himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to play in Perth. His outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight innings could provide the team management the confidence to support him to bat first if required alongside Khawaja, although the batsman is more likely to worry England when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts after a muscle problem in the second match helped turn the contest when Australia visited England in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against India with just nine wickets previously but recovered to be vital to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to captain the team until C