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The period for before the Ashes exchanges and selection speculation is nearly finished following Australia revealed a 15-player lineup to face England in the first Test. The expanded lineup for the first match points to the necessity for composed minds during the fiery contest, with the newcomer named for the first time in place of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman hitting stride and the remaining new players being a pair of pace reserves, there is a sense of familiarity to the team even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Following is the way every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball bravado, with a star rating indicating their possible impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned fast bowler is once more selected as a reserve following being a frequent member in the white-ball sides in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the other front-line attackers facing a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will aim to sustain his recent success to remain in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top fast bowler in Australia has turned into a focus for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his reserved nature away from the field. Yet the veteran has not taken 62 wickets at an average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – without proving to be a force at international cricket and can embrace the unique opportunity to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back 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 unforgettable moment when stumping Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in 2023. The veteran is currently a much more composed batsman if needed to accelerate or support the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the edges of the Australian side during recent Test series and is returning after taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is now possible as the captain is injured and the key fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The acclaimed all-rounder had been targeted for the national side from early in his career even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to make a major contribution to a high-stakes contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at first drop in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but might be selected in the order to ensure he can also assist the bowling unit. If Green can realistically be selected as a genuine bowling option in Perth, 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 powers following leading the limited-overs attack and preparing for the contest during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s steady line and length, and touch of seam whether seam movement or in the air, is sure to challenge the tourists’ aggressive approach to scoring, with the persistent question whether he can feature in four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and propensity to score big runs as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against India last summer, and the same the last time England toured for a full series demonstrate his talents, while the 31-year-old has a talent of taking a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team showed that he must additionally be viewed as a specialist batter when hitting a century at more than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable batting in the middle of the innings though he has shown while captaining the team in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which could suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran remains despite calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position after strengthening his grip on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. But after being among several batsmen unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old needs a positive beginning against the English pace cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide himself on the time to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has put a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the selectors the confidence to support him to open if required with Khawaja, although the 31-year-old is more likely to worry the opposition when playing at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts following a muscle problem in the second match contributed to change the series when Australia toured the UK in the last series. The veteran did not have the home campaign he would have wanted against India with just a modest haul previously but bounced back to be vital to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the team until C