🔗 Share this article

The time for before the Ashes banter and squad speculation is nearly done following Australia revealed a 15-member team to confront the English side in the Perth Test. The larger lineup for the first match suggests the need for calm heads during the heated Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald selected for the debut in place of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman hitting stride and the remaining uncapped players being a pair of pace replacements, there is a known quality to the squad despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Following is how each player (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive bravado, with a rating out of five reflecting their potential effect on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is again selected as a substitute after being a consistent presence in the limited-overs teams in recent years. With Cummins's return still uncertain, and the other front-line attackers confronting a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to sustain his recent success to remain in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

A key seamer in Australia has turned into a target for England for his modest performances during the previous series as much as for his reserved personality off the field. Yet the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an bowling average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his last Test against the Caribbean side – without being a threat at this level and ought to embrace the unique chance to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is returning in the intense atmosphere of an contest hoping to make his mark with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his role in a unforgettable moment when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in 2023. The veteran is currently a considerably more composed batsman if required to score quickly 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 recent matches and is back after claiming 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 attainable while Cummins is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been identified for the national side from early in his journey despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major impact to a high-stakes series. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at first drop in difficult conditions in the Caribbean but could be preferred lower down to make sure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in the first Test, or might have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs later in the campaign, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following carrying the limited-overs bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The veteran’s steady line and length, and hint of swing whether it be seam movement or in the air, is sure to challenge the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the persistent concern if he can feature in four or maybe as many as all five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is critical to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his positive approach and tendency to hit massive scores as the pressure increase. A pair of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for a full series highlight his talents, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the team showed that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batsman when hitting 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 shown while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays despite calls for a transition at the opening position following strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent earlier this year. Yet after being one of many batters unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old requires a good start against the English fast-bowling attack in what could be his final Test series to make sure he can decide himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the XI to feature in the first Test. His blistering form with five centuries in his recent innings could give the team management the confidence to back him to bat first if required with Khawaja, although the batsman is more likely to trouble England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal performances after a muscle problem in the second match contributed to change the contest when Australia toured the UK in 2023. The veteran did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with just a modest haul previously but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will step in to lead the side till C