🔗 Share this article

The period for before the Ashes talk and selection guesses is practically over after the Australian team announced a 15-member squad to take on the English side in the first Test. The expanded group for the first match indicates the requirement for calm heads during the fiery Ashes series, with the newcomer included for the maiden appearance replacing aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman finding form and the remaining inexperienced members being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball style, with a star rating showing their likely effect on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran fast bowler is again selected as a substitute following being a frequent presence in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the remaining main attackers dealing with a demanding schedule, the 33-year-old will want to continue his good form to remain in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key seamer in the team has become a target for England for his unflattering performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his calm personality away from the field. Yet the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a threat at the top level and can seize the rare chance to begin a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the intense atmosphere of an Ashes series looking to stand out 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 34-year-old is currently a considerably more composed batter if required to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the periphery of the national team across recent matches and is returning after claiming 33 wickets – featuring eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous Sheffield Shield. An international debut is currently within reach while the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising player had been identified for the national side from early in his career despite injury concerns, and the moment has come for him to deliver a major contribution to a high-stakes contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting players while batting at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the West Indies but could be selected lower down to ensure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to bowl bulk overs during the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the peak of his powers following leading the limited-overs attack and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against India. The veteran’s steady line and length, and touch of seam whether seam movement or in the air, is certain to Test the England's aggressive method to scoring, with the ongoing concern whether Hazlewood can play four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is crucial to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his positive approach and habit to hit huge runs as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests highlight his skills, while the 31-year-old has a knack of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the team proved that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batsman when scoring a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle-order although he has shown while leading the team in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which could suit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays even amid demands for a new blood at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. However after being among several batsmen failing to deal with the Indian the paceman last summer, the 38-year-old requires a positive beginning against England’s fast-bowling attack in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and surely the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks might provide the team management the assurance to support him to open if required with the opener, although the 31-year-old is probably to worry England when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when the team toured England in 2023. The veteran did not have the home campaign he hoped for against India with just a modest haul previously but bounced back to be vital to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

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