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The period for before the Ashes exchanges and squad speculation is practically done following Australia unveiled a 15-man team to take on England in the first Test. The larger group for the first match suggests the need for composed heads during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald selected for the debut in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining inexperienced members being two pace reserves, there is a recognizable feel to the squad despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is how every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the aggressive approach, with a star rating reflecting their likely influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran fast bowler is again selected as a reserve after being a consistent presence in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return still unclear, and the other key bowlers confronting a demanding schedule, the 33-year-old will aim to continue his recent success to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in Australia has turned into a focus for the opposition for his unflattering returns during the previous series as much as for his reserved demeanor away from the field. However the 36-year-old has not taken 62 wickets at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a threat at international cricket and can embrace the uncommon opportunity to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main gloveman is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a much more assured batter if needed to accelerate or guide the tail with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side across recent Test series and is back after claiming 33 wickets – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in the previous Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is now within reach as Cummins is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The acclaimed all-rounder had been targeted for the national side from early in his journey despite injury concerns, and the time has come for him to make a significant contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at No 3 in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be selected lower down to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells during the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the height of his abilities after carrying the white-ball bowling and preparing for the contest during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s steady discipline, and touch of movement whether seam movement or in the air, is bound to Test the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the persistent question if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is crucial to the team's hopes of taking the game against England with his positive approach and tendency to score huge scores as the stakes rise. A couple of centuries against India recently, and the same the last time England visited for five Tests demonstrate his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a key dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the team proved that he should additionally be considered as a specialist batsman when hitting a hundred at more than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most comfortable playing in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could fit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid calls for a new blood at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But after being one of many batsmen unable to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a positive beginning 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. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way again into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in Perth. Labuschagne blistering form with five hundreds in his last eight knocks might give the selectors the confidence to support him to bat first if required with the opener, though the 31-year-old is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he hoped for against India with just a modest haul previously but recovered to be key to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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