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The phase for before the Ashes talk and squad predictions is nearly done after Australia unveiled a 15-player team to face England in the Perth Test. The expanded group for the initial game indicates the necessity for composed heads during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald included for the maiden appearance in place of fiery opener Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining uncapped players being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a recognizable feel to the team even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (listed in alphabetical order) will face the aggressive bravado, with a star rating reflecting their possible impact on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is again trusted as a back-up following being a regular presence in the white-ball sides in the past few years. As Cummins's return still unknown, and the other key attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to sustain his strong performances to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in the team has turned into a target for the opposition for his modest performances during the previous series as much as for his reserved demeanor off the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against West Indies – without proving to be a threat at the top level and can welcome the rare opportunity to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is returning in the intense cauldron of an contest hoping to impress with the bat and his keeping, as well as for his role in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The veteran is now a far more assured batsman if required to lift the run-rate or help steer the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the fringes of the Australian side during recent matches and is back following taking 33 wickets – featuring 11 in the final – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An first appearance is now possible while the captain is sidelined and the key quicks prepare for a intense five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been identified for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to make a important contribution to a high-stakes series. The 26-year-old was the pick of the top-order players while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred lower down to ensure he can also support the pace attack. If he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver more spells later in the campaign, might be decided in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate seamer is at the peak of his abilities following leading the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s reliable line and length, and touch of swing whether it be seam movement or in the air, is certain to challenge the tourists’ aggressive approach to scoring, with the ongoing question if he can play four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his attacking intent and propensity to score massive scores as the pressure increase. A couple of centuries against India recently, and the similar the last time the English visited for five Tests point to his talents, while the player has a knack of finding a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he must also be considered as a pure batsman when scoring a century at better than a quick rate on debut in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to come in higher up, which might fit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays even amid calls for a new blood at the opening position following tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. However after being one of many batsmen unable to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old needs a strong beginning against the English pace cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to ensure he can make the call personally on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to feature in Perth. Labuschagne exceptional performance with five centuries in his recent knocks might give the team management the assurance to support him to open if needed with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his absence as his dismissal performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when Australia toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he hoped for against India with only a modest haul previously but bounced back to be critical to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to lead the team until C