🔗 Share this article

The phase for pre-Ashes exchanges and selection predictions is nearly over after the Australian team announced a 15-player team to face England in the Perth Test. This extended squad for the initial game points to the need for calm minds during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald named for the debut in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the only other new members being two fast bowling replacements, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of unavailable captain Pat Cummins. Below is how each member (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a star rating indicating their possible effect on the series beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is again selected as a substitute following being a regular member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining uncertain, and the remaining main bowlers dealing with a demanding schedule, the 33-year-old will want to sustain his good form to remain in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in Australia has turned into a target for England for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his quiet demeanor away from the pitch. But the 36-year-old has secured a significant haul at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has being a danger at this level and should embrace the rare opportunity to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is back in the simmering atmosphere of an contest aiming to make his mark with the batting and his gloves, as well as for his role in a memorable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is currently a far more confident batsman if needed to score quickly or help steer the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the fringes of the national team across recent Test series and is returning following claiming 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is currently attainable while the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a intense five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been targeted for the Test team from an early stage in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the time has come for him to deliver a major contribution to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but might be preferred in the order to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be trusted to deliver more spells during the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the height of his abilities after leading the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s reliable discipline, and hint of movement whether seam movement or swing, is certain to challenge the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the persistent concern if he can play four or perhaps as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is crucial to the team's hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his positive intent and tendency to hit big runs as the pressure rise. A couple of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the similar the last time the English toured for a full series point to his abilities, while the player has a knack of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a pure batter when pummelling a century at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most comfortable playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which could fit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains even amid demands for a transition at the top of the order following tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. But following being one of many batsmen unable to handle the Indian the paceman last summer, the veteran requires a good start against England’s pace cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide personally on the time to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a dismal 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 the first Test. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the selectors the confidence to support him to open if required alongside the opener, although the batsman is probably to worry England when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped change the contest when Australia visited the UK in the last series. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just nine wickets previously but recovered to be key to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will step in to lead the side till C