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The time for before the Ashes banter and selection speculation is practically done following Australia revealed a 15-member squad to face England in the first Test. This extended squad for the series opener points to the necessity for calm minds during the intense contest, with Jake Weatherald selected for the first time in place of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining uncapped members being two pace reserves, there is a known quality to the selection even without unavailable captain Pat Cummins. Following is the way each player (presented in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five reflecting their likely influence on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced fast bowler is again selected as a substitute following being a consistent member in the limited-overs teams in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining key bowlers facing a tough schedule, the veteran will hope to sustain his recent success to stay in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in the team has turned into a target for the opposition for his unflattering performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his calm personality off the pitch. Yet the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – and has being a danger at this level and can welcome the rare chance to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is back in the high-pressure cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to impress with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a far more composed batsman if required to accelerate or support the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the fringes of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is back after claiming 33 wickets – including eleven in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is now attainable while the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising player had been earmarked for the national side from early in his career despite fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a significant impact to a crucial contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging 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 all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to bowl more spells later in the series, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent seamer is at the height of his powers following leading the white-ball bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s reliable line and length, and hint of movement whether it be seam movement or swing, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring concern if Hazlewood can feature in four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is critical to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his attacking intent and habit to score massive scores as the pressure rise. A pair of centuries against India last summer, and the same the previous occasion England toured for five Tests point to his skills, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a key dismissal with his occasional but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team showed that he should also be considered as a specialist batter when scoring a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in the subcontinent. The player is most at home playing in the middle of the innings though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid calls for a new blood at the top of the order after tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. But after being among several batsmen unable to deal with India’s the paceman last summer, the veteran needs a good beginning against England’s pace cartel in what could be his final campaign to make sure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the XI to feature in Perth. Labuschagne exceptional performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks might provide the selectors the assurance to back him to bat first if required with Khawaja, though the batsman is probably to trouble England when playing at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped turn the contest when the team visited the UK in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against India with only nine wickets previously but bounced back to be critical to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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