The period for pre-Ashes banter and selection predictions is nearly over following Australia revealed a 15-player team to take on the English side in the Perth Test. The expanded squad for the series opener suggests the need for composed heads during the fiery Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the first time replacing aggressive opener Sam Konstas.
Yet with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the only other new members being two pace backups, there is a recognizable feel to the selection despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way each player (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five reflecting their potential influence on the campaign starting on 21 November.
First. Sean Abbott
The experienced seamer is again trusted as a substitute following being a regular member in the white-ball sides in recent years. With Cummins's return still unknown, and the remaining key bowlers facing a gruelling schedule, the veteran will want to continue his strong performances to stay in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆
2. Scott Boland
The fourth best pace bowler in the team has turned into a target for England for his moderate performances during the previous series as well as for his calm personality off the pitch. However the veteran has claimed a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – and has proving to be a force at international cricket and can embrace the rare opportunity to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆
3. Alex Carey
The main wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an contest hoping to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his role in a unforgettable moment when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in 2023. The veteran is now a much more assured batter if needed to accelerate or guide the tail with a match-turning innings. ★★★★☆
Fourth. Brendan Doggett
The state paceman has been on the periphery of the Australian side across recent matches and is back following claiming a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of a respectable figure in the previous domestic competition. An Test cap is now attainable while Cummins is sidelined and the key quicks get ready for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆
Fifth. Cameron Green
The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the national side from early in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to make a major impact to a high-stakes contest. The youngster was the pick of the top-order players while batting at first drop in challenging conditions in the Caribbean but might be preferred in the order to make sure he can also support the bowling unit. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to bowl bulk overs during the series, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆
Sixth. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate seamer is at the height of his abilities after leading the white-ball attack and fine-tuning for the contest during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s steady discipline, and touch of movement whether it be off the seam or in the air, is bound to Test the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the enduring question if he can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five Tests. ★★★★☆
Seventh. Travis Head
The explosive batsman is vital to Australia’s chances of seizing the initiative against England with his attacking approach and propensity to score huge scores as the pressure increase. A couple of centuries against India last summer, and the same the previous occasion England visited for a full series point to his talents, while the player has a ability of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★
Eighth. Josh Inglis
The reserve keeper in the squad demonstrated that he must additionally be viewed as a pure batter when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order though he has shown while leading Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which could fit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The veteran stays despite calls for a new blood at the top of the order after strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But following being among several batters failing to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a strong start against the English pace attack in what might be his farewell Test series to ensure he can decide personally on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆
Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne
The former top-ranked batsman has put a poor run and the indignity of being dropped in the past to force his way back into the national team – and surely the XI to feature in Perth. Labuschagne exceptional performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could provide the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if needed alongside Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is probably to trouble the opposition when playing at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆
11. Nathan Lyon
The spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a calf injury in the second match helped change the contest when Australia 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 Australia’s clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆
Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australia batting great will step in to lead the side till C
