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The time for pre-Ashes banter and squad speculation is almost finished following the Australian team revealed a 15-man squad to take on England in the first Test. The expanded group for the initial game points to the need for calm minds during the fiery battle, with the newcomer included for the first time instead of fiery opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman returning to form and the only other inexperienced players being two fast bowling backups, there is a recognizable feel to the squad despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Following is the way each player (listed in alphabetical order) will face the aggressive bravado, with a star rating indicating their potential effect on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is once more relied upon as a reserve following being a frequent presence in the limited-overs teams in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the other main attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will want to sustain his recent success to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key seamer in the team has turned into a object for England for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his calm personality off the pitch. However the 36-year-old has not taken 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – without being a threat at this level and should welcome the uncommon chance to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the high-pressure cauldron of an contest hoping to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as much as for his role in a unforgettable moment when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a far more confident batter if required to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the periphery of the Australian side during recent Test series and is back after claiming 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in the previous Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is currently within reach while the captain is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been identified for the Test team from early in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a significant impact to a high-stakes series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but could be selected in the order to make sure he can additionally support the bowling unit. If he can feasibly be selected as a true bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs during the series, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs bowling and getting ready for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s consistent discipline, and touch of swing whether seam movement or swing, is bound to Test the tourists’ front foot method to scoring, with the persistent question whether Hazlewood can play four or maybe even five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is critical to Australia’s hopes of taking the game up to England with his aggressive approach and habit to clobber massive runs as the stakes rise. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the similar the last time the English visited for a full series demonstrate his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a specialist batsman when scoring a hundred at more than a quick rate on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which might suit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid demands for a transition at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the opening spot with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But following being one of many batters unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old needs a positive beginning against the English pace attack in what could be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor run and the indignity of being omitted in the past to force his way again into the national team – and certainly the XI to feature in Perth. His blistering form with five centuries in his last eight knocks could give the team management the assurance to support him to open if needed alongside the opener, although the batsman is probably to worry England when playing at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as notable for his absence as his dismissal performances after a calf injury in the second match contributed to change the series when Australia toured the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with only a modest haul last summer but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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