The time for before the Ashes banter and squad speculation is practically done after the Australian team announced a 15-man team to confront the English side in the first Test. The expanded lineup for the initial game points to the need for composed temperaments during the intense Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald included for the maiden appearance replacing aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.
However with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the only other inexperienced players being two fast bowling replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Here is the way each member (listed in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball approach, with a star rating indicating their possible influence on the campaign beginning on 21 November.
First. Sean Abbott
The seasoned paceman is again relied upon as a back-up after being a regular presence in the limited-overs teams in recent years. With the captain's comeback remaining unclear, and the other front-line bowlers confronting a demanding fixture list, the veteran will want to maintain his strong performances to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆
Second. Scott Boland
The fourth best fast bowler in the team has emerged as a focus for the opposition for his unflattering performances during the previous series as well as for his calm nature off the field. But the veteran has secured 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his last Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a danger at international cricket and ought to seize the unique chance to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆
Third. Alex Carey
The preferred wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his role in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a considerably more assured batter whether required to score quickly or support the lower-order with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆
4. Brendan Doggett
The South Australia paceman has been on the edges of the national team during the last few matches and is back following claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the final – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is currently within reach while Cummins is injured and the front-line quicks prepare for a gruelling five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆
5. Cameron Green
The promising player had been targeted for the Test team from early in his career despite fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a important impact to a high-stakes contest. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting players while batting at first drop in difficult circumstances in the West Indies but might be selected in the order to make sure he can additionally assist the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to bowl bulk overs during the campaign, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆
Sixth. Josh Hazlewood
The accurate fast bowler is at the peak of his powers after carrying the white-ball bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and hint of seam whether it be off the seam or in the air, is certain to challenge the tourists’ aggressive approach to batting, with the enduring question if Hazlewood can play four or maybe even five Tests. ★★★★☆
7. Travis Head
The explosive batsman is critical to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his attacking intent and habit to score huge runs as the pressure rise. A couple of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests highlight his talents, while the player has a knack of taking a breakthrough wicket with his part-time but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★
Eighth. Josh Inglis
The back-up keeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a specialist batter when pummelling a century at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most at home playing in the middle of the innings though he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which might fit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆
Ninth. Usman Khawaja
The seasoned keeps hanging on despite calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position following tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent earlier this year. Yet following being one of many batsmen failing to deal with India’s the paceman last summer, the veteran needs a positive start against England’s fast-bowling attack in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can make the call himself on when to retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆
Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne
The ex top-ranked Test batter has put a dismal run and the indignity of being omitted in the past to force his way again into the Australia squad – and certainly the playing eleven to play in Perth. His outstanding performance with five centuries in his last eight innings might give the team management the assurance to support him to open if required with the opener, though the 31-year-old is probably to worry England when playing at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆
Eleventh. Nathan Lyon
The spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped turn the series when Australia visited England in the last series. The veteran did not have the domestic series he hoped for against the Indian team with only a modest haul previously but bounced back to be critical to the team's clean sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆
12. Steve Smith (captain)
The Australian batting great will step in to captain the team until C
