The period for pre-Ashes banter and selection guesses is almost finished after the Australian team announced a 15-player team to take on England in the Perth Test. This extended group for the series opener indicates the need for cool temperaments during the heated contest, with the newcomer selected for the debut instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.
Yet with the batsman returning to form and the only other new players being a pair of pace replacements, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of unavailable captain Pat Cummins. Below is the way every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive approach, with a rating out of five indicating their possible impact on the series starting on 21 November.
First. Sean Abbott
The veteran paceman is again relied upon as a substitute after being a frequent presence in the white-ball sides in recent years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the remaining front-line attackers facing a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will want to continue his good form to remain in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆
Second. Scott Boland
The fourth best fast bowler in the team has become a target for the opposition for his unflattering performances during the previous series as much as for his quiet nature away from the field. But the 36-year-old has claimed a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against West Indies – without proving to be a threat at the top level and should welcome the uncommon opportunity to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆
Third. Alex Carey
The first-choice wicketkeeper is back in the intense cauldron of an battle looking to impress with the batting and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a far more confident batter if required to score quickly or guide the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆
Fourth. Brendan Doggett
The South Australia seamer has been on the fringes of the Australian side across recent Test series and is returning after taking a solid haul – including eleven in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is currently possible while the captain is sidelined and the key quicks get ready for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆
5. Cameron Green
The promising player had been earmarked for the national side from an early stage in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a significant contribution to a high-stakes contest. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be preferred in the order to make sure he can additionally assist the pace attack. 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, might be determined in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆
Sixth. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his powers after carrying the white-ball attack and getting ready for the contest during matches against the Indian team. The veteran’s steady accuracy, and touch of seam whether seam movement or swing, is sure to Test the tourists’ aggressive approach to scoring, with the persistent concern whether he can feature in four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆
7. Travis Head
The aggressive batsman is crucial to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to England with his aggressive approach and propensity to clobber huge scores as the stakes rise. A couple of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the last time England visited for five Tests point to 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 second wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he must additionally be viewed as a specialist batter when scoring a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most at home playing in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while captaining Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which might suit a regular position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆
9. Usman Khawaja
The experienced stays despite demands for a transition at the top of the order following tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double century in Sri Lanka recently. But after being one of many batsmen unable to handle the Indian Jasprit Bumrah previously, the veteran requires a strong start against the English pace cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide personally on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆
Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne
The former No 1-ranked batsman has left behind a poor form and the indignity of being dropped behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to feature in Perth. His outstanding performance with five hundreds in his last eight innings might provide the team management the confidence to support him to bat first if required with the opener, though the 31-year-old is more likely to trouble England when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆
Eleventh. Nathan Lyon
The off-spinner was as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances after a calf injury in the second match contributed to change the contest when Australia visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with just nine wickets last summer but recovered to be critical to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆
12. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the team till C
