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The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and squad guesses is nearly finished after the Australian team unveiled a 15-player team to take on the English side in the Perth Test. The larger lineup for the initial game points to the need for composed heads during the heated Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald selected for the debut in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other uncapped members being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each player (listed in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a star rating showing their possible influence on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is again trusted as a back-up after being a regular member in the white-ball teams in recent years. As Cummins's return still unclear, and the remaining front-line attackers dealing with a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will aim to maintain his recent success to remain in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top fast bowler in the team has emerged as a target for England for his moderate returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his calm demeanor off the field. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – and has being a threat at the top level and can welcome the unique opportunity to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the intense atmosphere of an battle looking to impress with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a memorable moment when stumping the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a much more composed batsman if needed to accelerate or help steer the tail with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the periphery of the Australian side across the last few matches and is returning after taking 33 wickets – featuring 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is currently attainable while the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a intense five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been identified for the national side from early in his career despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major impact to a high-stakes series. The youngster was the pick of the batting players while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be selected in the order to ensure he can additionally assist the pace attack. If he can feasibly be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs during the campaign, might be decided in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent seamer is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s steady line and length, and touch of movement whether it be off the seam or in the air, is bound to challenge the England's front foot approach to scoring, with the enduring concern if he can feature in four or perhaps even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to England with his aggressive approach and habit to hit massive scores as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against India recently, and the same the previous occasion England toured for five Tests point to his talents, while the player has a talent of finding a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the squad proved that he should also be considered as a specialist batsman when scoring a hundred at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most comfortable batting in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while leading Australia in limited-overs matches that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays despite demands for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in Sri Lanka recently. But following being among several batters failing to deal with India’s the paceman previously, the 38-year-old needs a positive beginning against England’s fast-bowling attack in what might be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding performance with five centuries in his recent knocks might give the team management the assurance to support him to bat first if required with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to worry England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts after a muscle problem in the second match contributed to change the series when the team toured the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he hoped for against India with only a modest haul previously but recovered to be vital to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to lead the side till C