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The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and selection predictions is nearly finished following Australia announced a 15-man lineup to confront England in the Perth Test. The larger squad for the initial game indicates the requirement for cool heads during the fiery Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the debut replacing fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other new players being a pair of fast bowling reserves, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins. Below is how every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball style, with a star rating reflecting their possible influence on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is once more relied upon as a back-up following being a regular member in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unknown, and the remaining key attackers facing a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will aim to maintain his good form to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

A key fast bowler in the team has turned into a target for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his calm personality off the field. However the 36-year-old has claimed 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against West Indies – and has being a force at international cricket and should welcome the unique chance to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred gloveman is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his role in a memorable moment when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in 2023. The veteran is now a much more composed batter whether needed to accelerate or support the lower-order with a game-changing innings. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side across the last few Test series and is back after taking a solid haul – featuring 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is currently possible while the captain is injured and the front-line quicks get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising player had been targeted for the national side from an early stage in his career despite fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to deliver a significant contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but might be preferred lower down to make sure he can additionally support the bowling unit. If Green can feasibly be picked as a true all-rounder in Perth, or might have to be relied upon to bowl more spells later in the campaign, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield match soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate seamer is at the height of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and hint of movement whether it be seam movement or in the air, is bound to challenge the tourists’ front foot method to scoring, with the persistent question whether he can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is vital to Australia’s chances of taking the game up to the opposition with his positive approach and tendency to score massive scores as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the same the last time the English toured for five Tests point to his skills, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up keeper in the team demonstrated that he should also be viewed as a pure batsman when scoring a hundred at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle of the innings although he has demonstrated while captaining Australia in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which could fit a regular position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced remains despite calls for a transition at the top of the order following tightening his grip on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. However following being one of many batters unable to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a strong start against the English pace cartel in what could be his final campaign to make sure he can decide himself on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked Test batter has put a dismal form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in Perth. His blistering performance with five hundreds in his last eight innings could give the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if needed with Khawaja, although the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test helped change the series when the team toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against India with just nine wickets previously but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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