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The phase for pre-Ashes exchanges and squad predictions is practically finished after the Australian team unveiled a 15-member squad to take on the English side in the Perth Test. This extended squad for the initial game points to the necessity for composed heads during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald included for the debut instead of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

Yet with the batsman finding form and the remaining new members being a pair of pace replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Here is how every member (listed in alphabetical order) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a star rating reflecting their potential influence on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is once more selected as a reserve after being a frequent member in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback remaining uncertain, and the other key bowlers facing a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his good form to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key seamer in Australia has become a target for England for his unflattering returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his quiet nature off the field. However the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without being a force at the top level and can embrace the uncommon chance to begin a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back in the intense atmosphere of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a much more composed batsman whether required to lift the run-rate or help steer the lower-order with a match-turning contribution. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia paceman has been on the periphery of the national team during the last few matches and is returning following taking 33 wickets – featuring eleven in the final – at an bowling average of a respectable figure in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is currently possible as Cummins is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been earmarked for the national side from early in his career despite fitness issues, and the time has come for him to deliver a important contribution to a high-stakes series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order players while batting at No 3 in difficult conditions in the Caribbean but could be selected in the order to ensure he can also assist the bowling unit. If Green can realistically be selected as a genuine all-rounder in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to deliver bulk overs during the campaign, might be decided in the Sheffield Shield match this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the peak of his abilities following leading the white-ball attack and preparing for the contest during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and touch of swing whether it be seam movement or swing, is bound to Test the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing question whether he can play four or perhaps even five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batsman is vital to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative up to England with his positive intent and habit to score big runs as the pressure increase. A couple of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion England visited for a full series highlight his skills, while the player has a knack of taking a key dismissal with his part-time but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team demonstrated that he must additionally be considered as a specialist batsman when pummelling a hundred 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 although he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in earlier, which might fit a consistent position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays despite demands for a new blood at the top of the order following strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But following being one of many batsmen failing to handle India’s the paceman previously, the veteran needs a strong start against England’s fast-bowling attack in what might be his farewell Test series to make sure he can make the call personally on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked Test batter has left behind a poor run and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way back into the Australia squad – and surely the playing eleven to play in Perth. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his recent innings might give the team management the confidence to support him to bat first if needed with Khawaja, although the batsman is probably to worry England when playing at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The veteran failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against India with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be vital to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will take over to captain the side until C