🔗 Share this article

The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and squad predictions is nearly finished after the Australian team announced a 15-man squad to confront England in the Perth Test. The expanded group for the initial game suggests the necessity for cool heads during the fiery contest, with Jake Weatherald included for the debut instead of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman hitting stride and the only other uncapped players being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a recognizable feel to the selection even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (presented in alphabetical order) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five showing their potential impact on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned fast bowler is again trusted as a substitute following being a consistent presence in the white-ball sides in recent years. With Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the other front-line bowlers dealing with a demanding schedule, the veteran will want to sustain his strong performances to remain in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top fast bowler in Australia has become a target for England for his unflattering returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his quiet personality away from the pitch. But the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has being a threat at the top level and should embrace the rare opportunity to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is returning in the intense atmosphere of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the bat and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable moment when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a much more assured batsman whether needed to lift the run-rate or help steer the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state fast bowler has been on the edges of the Australian side across recent Test series and is back after taking a solid haul – featuring 11 in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An international debut is now attainable as Cummins is injured and the key quicks get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The acclaimed player had been identified for the Test team from early in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the time has come for him to make a significant impact to a crucial contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the West Indies but could be preferred in the order to ensure he can also support the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells during the series, could be determined in the Sheffield Shield match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the height of his powers after leading the limited-overs bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and touch of movement whether seam movement or in the air, is certain to Test the England's aggressive approach to scoring, with the ongoing question if he can play four or perhaps as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is critical to Australia’s hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and propensity to score massive scores as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against India recently, and the same the last time England visited for a full series demonstrate his skills, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a key dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team proved that he should additionally be considered as a pure batter when scoring a century at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle-order although he has shown while captaining the team in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which could fit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But after being one of many batters failing to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a strong beginning against England’s pace attack in what might be his farewell campaign to ensure he can decide personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to play in the first Test. Labuschagne exceptional form with five hundreds in his recent knocks might give the selectors the confidence to support him to open if needed alongside Khawaja, though the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts after a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the series when the team visited the UK in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets previously but recovered to be key to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will take over to captain the side till C