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The time for pre-Ashes banter and squad speculation is almost finished following the Australian team announced a 15-player squad to confront the English side in the first Test. The expanded squad for the series opener points to the requirement for calm temperaments during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald included for the debut instead of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman finding form and the only other uncapped players being a pair of pace reserves, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each player (listed in alphabetical order) will confront the aggressive style, with a star rating reflecting their potential effect on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is again relied upon as a reserve after being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the remaining front-line attackers dealing with a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to continue his strong performances to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key seamer in the team has become a focus for England for his moderate performances during the previous series as well as for his calm personality off the pitch. But the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a danger at international cricket and ought to seize the unique opportunity to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back in the simmering atmosphere of an contest aiming to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at the famous ground in 2023. The veteran is currently a considerably more confident batter if required to score quickly or support the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the edges of the national team during the last few Test series and is returning following taking 33 wickets – featuring 11 in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An international debut is now attainable as Cummins is injured and the key quicks get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a major impact to a high-stakes series. The youngster was the pick of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the West Indies but might be selected in the order to ensure he can also support the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be selected as a true all-rounder in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver more spells during the campaign, could be decided in the domestic round soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the height of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the contest during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and touch of movement whether it be off the seam or in the air, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the persistent question whether Hazlewood can play four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batter is critical to the team's chances of taking the game up to England with his positive intent and habit to score big runs as the stakes increase. A couple of centuries against India recently, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests demonstrate his skills, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the team proved that he should also be considered as a pure batsman when pummelling a century at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable batting in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which might fit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced remains despite calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position following strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But after being one of many batsmen failing to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a good start against the English pace attack in what might be his final Test series to ensure he can make the call personally on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor form and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and surely the playing eleven to play in the first Test. His blistering form with five centuries in his last eight innings could give the selectors the assurance to support him to open if required with the opener, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when Australia visited England in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he hoped for against the Indian team with only nine wickets previously but bounced back to be critical to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

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