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The time for before the Ashes talk and selection speculation is nearly over following the Australian team announced a 15-man squad to take on England in the Perth Test. This extended group for the initial game points to the need for cool heads during the heated battle, with the newcomer named for the maiden appearance instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining inexperienced players being a pair of fast bowling backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the team despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is the way each player (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive bravado, with a rating out of five indicating their potential impact on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is once again trusted as a substitute following being a regular presence in the white-ball teams in recent years. With the captain's comeback still uncertain, and the other key attackers dealing with a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his strong performances to remain in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in Australia has become a target for England for his moderate returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his reserved demeanor off the field. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against West Indies – without being a threat at the top level and can embrace the uncommon chance to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series aiming to stand out with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a unforgettable moment when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in 2023. The veteran is currently a considerably more confident batter whether needed to accelerate or guide the tail with a game-changing innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the periphery of the Australian side during recent Test series and is back following claiming 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is now attainable as Cummins is injured and the key quicks prepare for a intense five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the Test team from an early stage in his journey despite injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a significant impact to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order batters while coming in at No 3 in challenging conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred in the order to make sure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver more spells later in the campaign, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic fast bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the white-ball attack and getting ready for the contest during games against India. The 34-year-old’s reliable line and length, and hint of seam whether seam movement or in the air, is certain to challenge the tourists’ aggressive approach to batting, with the persistent concern whether he can feature in four or perhaps as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is critical to Australia’s hopes of taking the game up to England with his attacking approach and tendency to score huge scores as the pressure rise. A pair of hundreds against India recently, and the same the last time England toured for a full series point to his abilities, while the player has a knack of taking a key dismissal with his occasional but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he should also be viewed as a pure batter when hitting a century at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while leading Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which might suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced remains even amid calls for a transition at the top of the order following strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But following being one of many batsmen unable to deal with India’s the paceman last summer, the veteran needs a positive beginning against the English pace attack in what could be his final campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and certainly the XI to play in Perth. His outstanding performance with five hundreds in his recent knocks could give the team management the confidence to back him to open if needed with Khawaja, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his missing presence as his dismissal performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped change the contest when Australia toured England in 2023. 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 critical to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the team until C