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The time for before the Ashes exchanges and selection guesses is almost finished after Australia revealed a 15-member team to take on the English side in the first Test. The expanded squad for the initial game suggests the need for cool minds during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald named for the first time in place of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman hitting stride and the remaining new players being a pair of fast bowling reserves, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is the way every member (listed in alphabetical order) will confront the Bazball style, with a rating out of five indicating their possible impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned seamer is once again trusted as a back-up after being a regular presence in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the other key bowlers facing a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will aim to maintain his strong performances to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in the team has turned into a target for England for his modest returns during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his quiet demeanor off the pitch. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a danger at this level and can embrace the unique chance to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an contest aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is now a far more composed batsman whether needed 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 the last few matches and is back following taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is now within reach while Cummins is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a intense five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been identified for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a significant impact to a crucial series. The youngster was the best of the batting batters while coming in at first drop in difficult conditions in the Caribbean but might be selected lower down to ensure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. Whether he can feasibly be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be relied upon to deliver more spells later in the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent pace bowler is at the height of his powers following carrying the white-ball 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 seam movement or swing, is sure to Test the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the persistent question if Hazlewood can feature in four or perhaps even all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is crucial to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his attacking intent and tendency to clobber big scores as the pressure increase. A pair of centuries against India recently, and the similar the last time England visited for five Tests point to his skills, while the 31-year-old has a ability of taking a breakthrough dismissal with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batsman when hitting a hundred at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most comfortable batting in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which could fit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran keeps hanging on despite demands 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. However following being one of many batsmen unable to deal with the Indian the paceman previously, the veteran needs a strong start against England’s pace attack in what could be his farewell Test series to ensure he can make the call personally on the time to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the indignity of being dropped behind him to force his way back into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his last eight innings could provide the selectors the assurance to support him to open if required alongside the opener, although the batsman is probably to worry England when playing at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a calf injury in the second match contributed to change the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he hoped for against the Indian team with only a modest haul last summer but recovered to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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