🔗 Share this article

The time for before the Ashes exchanges and selection guesses is nearly over after the Australian team revealed a 15-player team to take on England in the first Test. The expanded squad for the first match indicates the necessity for calm minds during the heated contest, with Jake Weatherald named for the first time instead of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman finding form and the only other new players being a pair of pace backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the squad even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Following is the way each player (presented in alphabetical order) will face the aggressive approach, with a rating out of five reflecting their possible impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The experienced fast bowler is again relied upon as a substitute after being a frequent presence in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining uncertain, and the other front-line bowlers confronting a gruelling fixture list, the veteran will want to sustain his good form to stay in consideration for a first Test cap. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in Australia has turned into a object for England for his modest returns during the 2023 Ashes as well as for his calm nature off the pitch. Yet the veteran has secured 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 – including a three in three in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a danger at this level and ought to welcome the uncommon opportunity to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an contest hoping to impress with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a considerably more confident batter if required to score quickly or guide the tail with a match-turning knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state fast bowler has been on the edges of the Australian side across recent matches and is back after claiming a solid haul – featuring 11 in the final – at an bowling average of a respectable figure in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An international debut is now attainable as Cummins is sidelined and the key fast bowlers get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The promising all-rounder had been targeted for the national side from early in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major impact to a high-stakes series. The youngster was the best of the top-order players while batting at first drop in difficult conditions in the Caribbean but might be selected in the order to make sure he can also support the bowling unit. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be trusted to bowl more spells during the campaign, could be determined in the Sheffield Shield match soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate fast bowler is at the height of his powers after carrying the white-ball attack and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent line and length, and hint of swing whether seam movement or in the air, is sure to Test the England's aggressive method to batting, with the persistent question whether he can play four or maybe as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The devastating batter is critical to the team's hopes of seizing the initiative against the opposition with his aggressive intent and propensity to clobber huge runs as the pressure rise. A pair of hundreds against India last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for a full series highlight his skills, while the player has a knack of taking a key wicket with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up keeper in the squad proved that he must also be viewed as a pure batter when scoring a century at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle of the innings although he has shown while leading the team in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which might suit a regular role as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid calls for a new blood at the top of the order after strengthening his grip on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. Yet following being one of many batsmen failing to handle the Indian the paceman last summer, the veteran needs a good start against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what might be his farewell campaign to ensure he can decide personally on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has left behind a dismal run and the indignity of being dropped behind him to earn his place again into the Australia squad – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. Labuschagne blistering performance with five hundreds in his last eight knocks might provide the selectors the confidence to back him to open if required with Khawaja, although the batsman is more likely to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking efforts after a muscle problem in the second match helped change the contest when Australia visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he hoped for against India with just a modest haul previously but recovered to be key to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian batting great will step in to captain the side until C