The time for before the Ashes talk and selection predictions is practically finished after the Australian team announced a 15-member lineup to take on England in the first Test. This extended squad for the first match indicates the need for composed temperaments during the intense contest, with Jake Weatherald selected for the maiden appearance in place of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.
But with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the remaining new members being a pair of fast bowling replacements, there is a known quality to the squad even without unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is how every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball approach, with a star rating reflecting their likely impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.
First. Sean Abbott
The veteran seamer is once again relied upon as a substitute after being a consistent presence in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining unknown, and the remaining front-line bowlers dealing with a demanding schedule, the 33-year-old will want to maintain his recent success to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆
2. Scott Boland
The fourth best fast bowler in Australia has emerged as a target for England for his modest returns during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his calm demeanor off the field. Yet the veteran has secured 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a threat at the top level and can welcome the uncommon opportunity to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆
3. Alex Carey
The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the simmering cauldron of an contest aiming to make his mark with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his role in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is now a far more confident batter if required to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆
Fourth. Brendan Doggett
The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side during the last few Test series and is returning following claiming a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An first appearance is currently within reach as Cummins is sidelined and the front-line quicks prepare for a intense five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆
5. Cameron Green
The promising player had been identified for the Test team from an early stage in his journey despite injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a major contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be preferred lower down to ensure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. Whether he can feasibly be selected as a true bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs later in the campaign, might be determined in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆
Sixth. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his powers after carrying the white-ball attack and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against India. The 34-year-old’s consistent line and length, and hint of seam whether it be seam movement or in the air, is sure to Test the tourists’ front foot approach to batting, with the enduring question if Hazlewood can play four or maybe even all five matches. ★★★★☆
7. Travis Head
The devastating batter is vital to Australia’s chances of taking the game against England with his aggressive intent and propensity to clobber huge scores as the stakes increase. A couple of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the last time the English toured for a full series highlight his talents, while the player has a ability of taking a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★
Eighth. Josh Inglis
The second keeper in the team proved that he must also be considered as a specialist batsman when scoring a hundred at better than a quick rate on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home batting in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which could suit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid demands for a new blood at the opening position following tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But following being among several batters unable to handle the Indian the paceman previously, the veteran needs a good beginning against England’s pace cartel in what might be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call himself on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆
Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne
The former top-ranked Test batter has left behind a dismal form and the indignity of being omitted in the past to earn his place back into the national team – and certainly the XI to feature in Perth. His outstanding performance with five centuries in his last eight knocks might provide the selectors the confidence to support him to open if required with the opener, although the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when playing at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆
11. Nathan Lyon
The off-spinner was as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the contest when Australia toured England in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆
12. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australia star batsman will take over to lead the side until C
