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The time for pre-Ashes banter and selection speculation is almost over after the Australian team revealed a 15-member squad to confront England in the first Test. The expanded squad for the series opener suggests the necessity for composed heads during the intense battle, with the newcomer selected for the first time replacing aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman hitting stride and the remaining new players being a pair of fast bowling replacements, there is a known quality to the selection even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Following is the way every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five showing their possible impact on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is again selected as a reserve following being a frequent presence in the white-ball sides in recent years. As Cummins's return remaining uncertain, and the other front-line attackers facing a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will aim to sustain his good form to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in the team has turned into a target for England for his moderate performances during the previous series as well as for his reserved personality off the field. Yet the veteran has not taken a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against West Indies – without being a danger at the top level and ought to embrace the rare chance to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is returning in the simmering cauldron of an contest aiming to impress with the bat and his keeping, as well 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 batsman if needed to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the edges of the national team 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 the previous Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is now possible while Cummins is injured and the front-line quicks prepare for a demanding five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The acclaimed player had been targeted for the Test team from early in his career despite fitness issues, and the time has come for him to make a major impact to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the best of the batting players while coming in at first drop in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to make sure he can also support the bowling unit. Whether he can realistically be picked as a true bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs later in the campaign, could be decided in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following carrying the limited-overs bowling and preparing for the contest during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s reliable line and length, and touch of movement whether seam movement or in the air, is sure to Test the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the enduring concern whether he can feature in four or maybe even five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his attacking intent and propensity to score massive runs as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests highlight his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he should additionally be considered as a pure batsman when scoring a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle of the innings though he has shown while leading Australia in limited-overs matches that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which might fit a regular role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid demands for a transition at the top of the order after strengthening his grip on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. Yet after being one of many batters failing to deal with India’s the paceman previously, the 38-year-old needs a good start against the English pace attack in what could be his final campaign to make sure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to force his way again into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight innings could provide the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if needed alongside the opener, although the batsman is more likely to worry the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances following a muscle problem in the second match helped turn the series when Australia toured England in 2023. The veteran did not have the home campaign he hoped for against India with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be key to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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