The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and squad speculation is practically over following the Australian team revealed a 15-player lineup to take on the English side in the Perth Test. The expanded group for the initial game suggests the requirement for calm minds during the heated Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the maiden appearance instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.
However with the batsman finding form and the remaining uncapped players being two fast bowling replacements, there is a recognizable feel to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Following is how every member (presented in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five reflecting their likely influence on the series beginning on 21 November.
1. Sean Abbott
The experienced paceman is once more trusted as a reserve following being a consistent presence in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. As the captain's comeback remaining uncertain, and the other main bowlers facing a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to maintain his strong performances to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆
2. Scott Boland
The fourth best pace bowler in the team has become a focus for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his reserved nature off the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a danger at this level and can welcome the uncommon chance to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆
3. Alex Carey
The main wicketkeeper is back in the high-pressure cauldron of an contest looking to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more composed batsman if needed to accelerate or support the tail with a decisive contribution. ★★★★☆
4. Brendan Doggett
The state paceman has been on the edges of the Australian side across recent Test series and is returning following taking 33 wickets – including 11 in the last match – at an bowling average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is currently possible as the captain is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆
5. Cameron Green
The highly-touted all-rounder had been identified for the Test team from early in his career even amid fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a important impact to a crucial contest. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but might be selected lower down to make sure he can additionally support the bowling unit. If Green can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs later in the series, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆
Sixth. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s steady accuracy, and touch of movement whether seam movement or swing, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive approach to scoring, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can play four or maybe even five matches. ★★★★☆
7. Travis Head
The explosive batter is crucial to the team's hopes of taking the game up to England with his aggressive intent and habit to hit massive runs as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the last time the English toured for five Tests point to his talents, while the player has a knack of taking a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★
Eighth. Josh Inglis
The reserve keeper in the squad showed that he should also be considered as a pure batsman when pummelling a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which could fit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The experienced keeps hanging on despite demands for a transition at the opening position following strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But following being one of many batsmen unable to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a positive start against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆
10. Marnus Labuschagne
The former top-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to force his way back into the Australia squad – and surely the XI to play in Perth. His exceptional form with five centuries in his last eight knocks could provide the selectors the confidence to support him to bat first if needed alongside Khawaja, though the batsman is probably to trouble England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆
Eleventh. Nathan Lyon
The spinner became as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test helped turn the series when Australia visited the UK in the last series. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against India with only a modest haul previously but recovered to be vital to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆
Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the side until C
