🔗 Share this article

The time for before the Ashes exchanges and selection speculation is practically finished after Australia announced a 15-player team to face the English side in the first Test. This extended lineup for the initial game points to the necessity for cool minds during the fiery contest, with Jake Weatherald included for the first time instead of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman returning to form and the only other uncapped players being two fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Following is the way every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the aggressive bravado, with a star rating indicating their possible effect on the campaign starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is again trusted as a reserve after being a consistent member in the white-ball sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining uncertain, and the other key bowlers facing a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to sustain his strong performances to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

A key seamer in Australia has turned into a focus for England for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his quiet nature off the pitch. However 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 – without proving to be a force at the top level and ought to seize the rare opportunity to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is back in the simmering cauldron of an battle looking to impress with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his role in a unforgettable incident when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The 34-year-old is currently a considerably more assured batsman if required to accelerate or help steer the lower-order with a decisive contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the fringes of the national team during the last few Test series and is back following taking a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is currently possible while the captain is sidelined and the front-line quicks get ready for a demanding five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been earmarked for the Test team from early in his career even amid fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to make a major impact to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the pick of the top-order players while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be preferred in the order to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a true all-rounder in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells later in the campaign, could be decided in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the height of his abilities after carrying the white-ball attack and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s steady line and length, and touch of swing whether off the seam or in the air, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the enduring question if he can play four or maybe as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batter is vital to the team's chances of taking the game up to the opposition with his positive approach and habit to score massive scores as the stakes rise. A pair of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a talent of taking a key wicket with his occasional but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batter when scoring a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on debut in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while leading Australia in limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which might suit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position following strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. However after being one of many batters failing to handle the Indian the paceman previously, the 38-year-old needs a strong beginning against the English fast-bowling cartel in what could be his final campaign to ensure he can decide himself on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a dismal form and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to force his way back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to feature in the first Test. His outstanding form with five centuries in his recent innings could provide the team management the confidence to back him to bat first if required alongside Khawaja, though the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when playing at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when the team toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just a modest haul previously but recovered to be critical to Australia’s series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will step in to captain the team till C