The time for before the Ashes banter and selection speculation is practically over after Australia announced a 15-player lineup to take on England in the Perth Test. The larger lineup for the first match points to the necessity for calm temperaments during the fiery Ashes series, with the newcomer included for the first time replacing fiery opener Sam Konstas.
Yet with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the only other new players being two pace reserves, there is a known quality to the squad even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how every member (presented in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a star rating reflecting their possible effect on the series beginning on 21 November.
1. Sean Abbott
The seasoned paceman is once again relied upon as a reserve after being a regular member in the limited-overs teams in recent years. As the captain's comeback remaining unclear, and the remaining key attackers dealing with a demanding schedule, the veteran will aim to continue his strong performances to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆
Second. Scott Boland
A key pace bowler in the team has emerged as a focus for England for his unflattering performances during the previous series as much as for his calm nature off the pitch. However the 36-year-old has secured 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – without being a threat at this level and ought to embrace the unique opportunity to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆
3. Alex Carey
The main gloveman is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in 2023. The 34-year-old is currently a much more composed batter whether required to lift the run-rate or help steer the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆
4. Brendan Doggett
The state seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side during the last few matches and is returning after claiming a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is now within reach while Cummins is injured and the key quicks get ready for a demanding five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆
Fifth. Cameron Green
The promising player had been targeted for the national side from an early stage in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major impact to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at No 3 in challenging conditions in the West Indies but might be selected lower down to ensure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs later in the campaign, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield round this week. ★★★☆☆
6. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate fast bowler is at the height of his abilities after leading the white-ball bowling and getting ready for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s consistent discipline, and hint of movement whether it be off the seam or swing, is sure to Test the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the persistent question if he can feature in four or perhaps as many as five matches. ★★★★☆
Seventh. Travis Head
The aggressive batter is critical to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against England with his attacking intent and habit to hit massive scores as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the same the last time the English visited for a full series point to his skills, while the player has a ability of taking a key dismissal with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★
8. Josh Inglis
The reserve wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a pure batsman when hitting a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while leading Australia in white-ball games that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which could suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The seasoned keeps hanging on despite calls for a transition at the opening position after strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But following being among several batsmen failing to handle India’s the paceman last summer, the veteran requires a strong beginning against the English pace cartel in what might be his final campaign to make sure he can decide personally on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆
10. Marnus Labuschagne
The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal run and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and surely the XI to feature in Perth. His blistering performance with five centuries in his last eight innings might provide the selectors the confidence to support him to bat first if required with the opener, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆
Eleventh. Nathan Lyon
The off-spinner was as notable for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts after a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the series when the team toured the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with only nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be critical to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆
12. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the side until C
