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The period for pre-Ashes talk and selection guesses is almost done after Australia announced a 15-player lineup to confront the English side in the Perth Test. This extended group for the series opener points to the requirement for composed heads during the fiery battle, with the newcomer included for the first time in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other new members being two pace backups, there is a known quality to the selection despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is the way each player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the aggressive approach, with a star rating indicating their likely impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is once again selected as a substitute after being a frequent member in the white-ball sides in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the remaining front-line attackers dealing with a gruelling schedule, the veteran will want to sustain his strong performances to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key pace bowler in Australia has emerged as a focus for England for his unflattering returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his quiet nature off the pitch. But the veteran has not taken 62 wickets at an bowling average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – without being a force at international cricket and ought to embrace the uncommon chance to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series looking to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a much more confident batter whether required to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the fringes of the national team across the last few matches and is returning after taking a solid haul – featuring eleven in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is currently possible while Cummins is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a intense five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The acclaimed player had been identified for the national side from early in his career even amid injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major contribution to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the best of the batting batters while coming in at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but could be selected lower down to make sure he can also assist the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs later in the campaign, might be decided in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the height of his powers following carrying the limited-overs bowling and getting ready for the Ashes series during matches against India. The veteran’s steady line and length, and hint of seam whether off the seam or swing, is sure to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the ongoing question whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe as many as five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batter is crucial to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against England with his positive intent and tendency to clobber huge scores as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against India recently, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for a full series demonstrate his skills, while the player has a ability of finding a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a specialist batsman when scoring a century at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance 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 limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which might suit a regular role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays despite calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order following strengthening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But after being one of many batsmen unable to handle India’s the paceman last summer, the 38-year-old needs a positive start against England’s fast-bowling attack in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can decide personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor run and the indignity of being omitted in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. His exceptional performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the team management the confidence to support him to bat first if needed alongside Khawaja, although the batsman is more likely to worry England when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as notable for his missing presence as his wicket-taking efforts after a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped turn the series when the team toured England in the last series. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against India with just a modest haul previously but bounced back to be key to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the side till C