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The time for pre-Ashes banter and squad guesses is nearly over following the Australian team announced a 15-member team to face England in the Perth Test. The expanded squad for the series opener points to the need for composed temperaments during the intense Ashes series, with the newcomer named for the first time replacing fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman returning to form and the remaining uncapped players being a pair of fast bowling reserves, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Following is how each member (presented in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their likely impact on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is once more trusted as a reserve after being a consistent member in the limited-overs sides in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the remaining front-line attackers confronting a demanding schedule, the veteran will want to sustain his strong performances to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in Australia has emerged as a object for the opposition for his modest returns during the previous series as well as for his calm demeanor away from the pitch. But the veteran has secured 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against West Indies – without being a danger at the top level and should welcome the uncommon chance to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the simmering atmosphere of an battle aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable moment when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a much more confident batsman if needed to accelerate or support the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the fringes of the Australian side during recent matches and is back after claiming a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is now attainable as the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the national side from an early stage in his career even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a major impact to a high-stakes series. The youngster was the pick of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the West Indies but might be selected lower down to ensure he can additionally support the bowling unit. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be relied upon to deliver bulk overs during the series, might be decided in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his powers following carrying the limited-overs attack and getting ready for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s steady discipline, and hint of swing whether seam movement or in the air, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing question whether he can play four or perhaps as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is vital to the team's chances of taking the game up to the opposition with his attacking approach and habit to hit massive scores as the stakes rise. A couple of hundreds against India recently, and the same the last time the English visited for five Tests point to his talents, while the 31-year-old has a talent of taking a key wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the squad demonstrated that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batsman when hitting a hundred at better than a quick rate on debut in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while leading Australia in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on despite demands for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the opening spot with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. But following being one of many batsmen unable to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old needs a positive beginning against England’s fast-bowling attack in what might be his farewell campaign to make sure he can make the call himself on when to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way again into the national team – and certainly the XI to feature in the first Test. His blistering form with five centuries in his last eight knocks might provide the team management the assurance to back him to bat first if required alongside the opener, although the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when playing at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the contest when the team toured England in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with only a modest haul previously but bounced back to be vital to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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