🔗 Share this article

The phase for before the Ashes exchanges and squad speculation is practically finished after the Australian team unveiled a 15-player lineup to face England in the first Test. The expanded group for the first match points to the requirement for calm temperaments during the intense Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the first time instead of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the remaining uncapped players being two pace backups, there is a known quality to the selection even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is how each member (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their potential effect on the campaign starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is once again trusted as a back-up after being a regular member in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. As Cummins's return remaining unknown, and the remaining main bowlers confronting a demanding schedule, the veteran will aim to continue his strong performances to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in the team has become a target for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as well as for his reserved personality off the pitch. Yet the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his latest Test against West Indies – without proving to be a force at international cricket and should seize the uncommon chance to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an battle looking to stand out with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his role in a unforgettable incident when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is now a considerably more assured batter whether needed to accelerate or help steer the lower-order with a game-changing contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is back following taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is now within reach while the captain is injured and the key fast bowlers get ready for a intense five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the Test team from early in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to make a significant impact to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be selected lower down to make sure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. If he can realistically be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to bowl more spells later in the series, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent fast bowler is at the peak of his powers following leading the limited-overs attack and preparing for the contest during matches against India. The veteran’s consistent line and length, and touch of movement whether off the seam or in the air, is certain to Test the England's aggressive approach to scoring, with the persistent concern whether he can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to the team's hopes of taking the game up to England with his positive approach and propensity to score massive runs as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the similar the previous occasion England visited for a full series highlight his abilities, while the player has a talent of finding a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the team proved that he should additionally be considered as a pure batsman when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home batting in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which might suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The experienced keeps hanging on 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. Yet following being one of many batters failing to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a good beginning against England’s pace attack in what could be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide himself on the time to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has put a poor run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to force his way back into the national team – and certainly the XI to play in Perth. His blistering performance with five centuries in his last eight innings could give the team management the assurance to back him to open if needed alongside the opener, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match contributed to turn the contest when the team toured England in 2023. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against India with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be vital to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the side till C