The time for pre-Ashes banter and squad guesses is almost finished following Australia unveiled a 15-man team to take on England in the Perth Test. The expanded lineup for the initial game indicates the need for calm heads during the intense battle, with the newcomer selected for the first time instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.
However with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining inexperienced players being a pair of pace replacements, there is a recognizable feel to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is how every member (presented in A-Z sequence) will confront the aggressive style, with a star rating showing their possible impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.
First. Sean Abbott
The seasoned paceman is once again trusted as a back-up after being a frequent presence in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. As Cummins's return still unknown, and the remaining main bowlers dealing with a demanding schedule, the veteran will aim to sustain his good form to remain in contention for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆
Second. Scott Boland
Among the top fast bowler in Australia has become a focus for England for his unflattering returns during the previous series as well as for his reserved nature away from the pitch. Yet the 36-year-old has secured a significant haul at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a force at the top level and ought to welcome the uncommon opportunity to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆
Third. Alex Carey
The first-choice gloveman is returning in the simmering atmosphere of an Ashes series hoping to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more composed batsman whether required to lift the run-rate or support the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆
4. Brendan Doggett
The South Australia seamer has been on the periphery of the national team across the last few Test series and is back after taking 33 wickets – including 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An international debut is currently possible while the captain is sidelined and the key quicks prepare for a gruelling five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆
5. Cameron Green
The promising player had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his career despite injury concerns, and the moment has come for him to deliver a important impact to a high-stakes contest. The youngster was the pick of the batting batters while batting at first drop in difficult conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred in the order to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be selected as a genuine bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl more spells during the series, might be decided in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆
6. Josh Hazlewood
The metronomic fast bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs attack and preparing for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent discipline, and hint of swing whether seam movement or swing, is certain to Test the tourists’ front foot method to scoring, with the persistent question whether he can play four or perhaps even five matches. ★★★★☆
Seventh. Travis Head
The aggressive batsman is critical to the team's hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his positive approach and tendency to clobber massive runs as the stakes rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion England visited for five Tests point to his skills, while the player has a knack of finding a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★
8. Josh Inglis
The second keeper in the team demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a specialist batter when scoring a century at more than a quick rate on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most comfortable batting in the middle-order though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which could suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The seasoned keeps hanging on despite demands for a new blood at the top of the order following tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent earlier this year. But following being among several batters failing to deal with the Indian the paceman last summer, the 38-year-old requires a positive beginning against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his farewell Test series to ensure he can decide personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆
10. Marnus Labuschagne
The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to feature in Perth. His outstanding performance with five centuries in his last eight knocks could provide the selectors the assurance to support him to open if required with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆
Eleventh. Nathan Lyon
The off-spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his wicket-taking efforts after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test helped change the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he hoped for against the Indian team with only nine wickets previously but recovered to be critical to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆
Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australian batting great will take over to captain the side till C
