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The period for before the Ashes exchanges and selection guesses is nearly finished after the Australian team revealed a 15-member team to face the English side in the first Test. The larger squad for the first match points to the necessity for composed minds during the heated battle, with Jake Weatherald included for the maiden appearance in place of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman returning to form and the remaining uncapped members being a pair of pace replacements, there is a recognizable feel to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the aggressive bravado, with a star rating showing their likely impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is again selected as a substitute following being a regular presence in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. As Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the other front-line bowlers confronting a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to sustain his good form to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in the team has become a target for England for his moderate returns during the previous series as well as for his quiet nature away from the pitch. However the 36-year-old has secured 62 wickets at an bowling average of an impressive figure – including a three in three in his most recent Test against West Indies – without proving to be a threat at international cricket and ought to welcome the unique opportunity to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is returning in the intense cauldron of an contest aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his role in a memorable moment when stumping the English batsman at the famous ground in 2023. The 34-year-old is currently a much more confident batsman if needed to accelerate or help steer the lower-order with a match-turning contribution. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the fringes of the national team across the last few matches and is back after claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is currently possible while the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been identified for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major impact to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be preferred lower down to ensure he can additionally assist the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be picked as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells later in the series, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following leading the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against India. The veteran’s reliable line and length, and hint of movement whether off the seam or in the air, is bound to challenge the England's front foot approach to batting, with the enduring question whether Hazlewood can play four or maybe as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative against England with his attacking approach and propensity to hit big runs as the pressure increase. A couple of hundreds against India recently, and the same the last time the English toured for a full series highlight his abilities, while the player has a ability of finding a key dismissal with his part-time but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he should also be considered as a specialist batter when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has shown while leading Australia in limited-overs matches that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran keeps hanging on even amid calls for a new blood at the top of the order following tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka recently. Yet after being among several batsmen unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a good start against the English pace cartel in what might be his final campaign to ensure he can decide himself on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has put a poor form and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the XI to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding performance with five hundreds in his recent innings could provide the selectors the confidence to back him to open if needed with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to worry the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped change the contest when the team visited the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against the Indian team with just a modest haul last summer but recovered to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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