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The phase for before the Ashes talk and squad guesses is practically finished following the Australian team announced a 15-man team to face the English side in the Perth Test. The larger group for the series opener suggests the requirement for cool heads during the intense Ashes series, with the newcomer selected for the first time instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining inexperienced players being a pair of fast bowling replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Following is how every player (presented in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their potential influence on the campaign starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned seamer is once again relied upon as a substitute after being a frequent presence in the white-ball sides in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining unclear, and the other main bowlers dealing with a tough fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his recent success to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in the team has emerged as a focus for England for his moderate performances during the 2023 Ashes as much as for his quiet personality off the field. But the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of an impressive figure – including a three in three in his last Test against West Indies – without proving to be a threat at the top level and ought to seize the rare opportunity to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is back in the high-pressure atmosphere of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the batting and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a far more confident batter whether required to accelerate or guide the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the periphery of the national team across the last few matches and is returning after taking a solid haul – including 11 in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An first appearance is now within reach while Cummins is injured and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising player had been identified for the national side from early in his career even amid injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a important contribution to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the standout of the batting batters while coming in at No 3 in difficult circumstances in the Caribbean but might be selected lower down to ensure he can additionally support the bowling unit. If he can feasibly be selected as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs later in the campaign, could be decided in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate fast bowler is at the height of his abilities following carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against India. The 34-year-old’s reliable line and length, and hint of movement whether off the seam or swing, is bound to Test the tourists’ front foot method to batting, with the ongoing question whether he can feature in four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to Australia’s hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his attacking intent and propensity to score huge runs as the stakes increase. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team last summer, and the same the last time England visited for a full series point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a knack of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be considered as a specialist batter when scoring a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has shown while captaining the team in limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which might suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays despite demands for a new blood at the opening position following tightening his grip on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But after being among several batsmen unable to handle India’s Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the 38-year-old requires a positive beginning against the English fast-bowling cartel in what might be his final campaign to make sure he can make the call personally on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the national team – and surely the XI to play in Perth. Labuschagne exceptional form with five hundreds in his recent innings might give the team management the assurance to back him to bat first if needed alongside the opener, though the batsman is probably to worry England when playing at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his absence as his dismissal efforts after a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped change the series when the team toured the UK in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against India with only a modest haul previously but bounced back to be vital to Australia’s clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will take over to lead the team until C