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The period for before the Ashes talk and selection guesses is nearly done after Australia revealed a 15-member squad to face the English side in the Perth Test. This extended group for the first match points to the requirement for calm minds during the intense battle, with Jake Weatherald selected for the maiden appearance in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other inexperienced players being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Here is how each member (presented in alphabetical order) will face the aggressive approach, with a rating out of five indicating their possible influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is again relied upon as a back-up after being a frequent presence in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the other key attackers confronting a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to maintain his good form to stay in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best fast bowler in Australia has turned into a focus for the opposition for his modest performances during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his calm nature away from the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a force at the top level and can embrace the uncommon chance to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more composed batter if needed to lift the run-rate or guide the lower-order with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state fast bowler has been on the periphery of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is returning after taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous Sheffield Shield. An international debut is now attainable as the captain is injured and the key quicks get ready for a gruelling five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been earmarked for the Test team from early in his career despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to deliver a important impact to a crucial contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the batting batters while batting at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to ensure he can additionally assist the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a true bowling option in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs during the campaign, could be determined in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent pace bowler is at the peak of his powers after leading the limited-overs attack and getting ready for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s reliable discipline, and hint of seam whether it be off the seam or in the air, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive method to batting, with the persistent question whether he can feature in four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The devastating batter is critical to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his aggressive approach and propensity to hit massive scores as the stakes increase. A pair of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the similar the last time England visited for five Tests highlight his talents, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a key wicket with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team proved that he should additionally be considered as a specialist batter when hitting a hundred at better than a quick rate on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable batting in the middle-order though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which could fit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid calls for a transition at the opening position following strengthening his grip on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. However after being among several batsmen unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran requires a positive start against the English pace attack in what could be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on when to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to force his way again into the national team – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight innings could give the selectors the assurance to support him to bat first if required alongside Khawaja, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the series when Australia toured England in 2023. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just nine wickets previously but recovered to be critical to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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