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The period for before the Ashes talk and selection guesses is nearly finished following Australia unveiled a 15-man team to face England in the Perth Test. This extended lineup for the initial game points to the necessity for cool heads during the intense battle, with the newcomer named for the first time instead of aggressive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman finding form and the only other new players being two pace backups, there is a sense of familiarity to the team even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each player (listed in alphabetical order) will tackle the aggressive approach, with a rating out of five showing their possible effect on the series starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is once more selected as a substitute after being a consistent presence in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. As the captain's comeback remaining unclear, and the other key bowlers confronting a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to sustain his good form to remain in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

A key fast bowler in the team has turned into a target for the opposition for his modest performances during the previous series as much as for his quiet demeanor away from the field. However the veteran has secured 62 wickets at an bowling average of an impressive figure – featuring a three in three in his latest Test against West Indies – without being a danger at this level and should seize the unique chance to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice wicketkeeper is returning in the high-pressure cauldron of an contest hoping to impress with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in 2023. The 34-year-old is now a far more assured batsman if required to score quickly or support the lower-order with a game-changing knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the periphery of the national team during recent matches and is back after claiming a solid haul – including eleven in the last match – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is now possible as the captain is sidelined and the front-line quicks prepare for a intense five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been earmarked for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a major contribution to a pivotal contest. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting batters while batting at No 3 in difficult conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred lower down to make sure he can also support the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be trusted to deliver more spells during the campaign, could be decided in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The consistent seamer is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the limited-overs attack and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against India. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and hint of seam whether it be seam movement or swing, is bound to challenge the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even all five matches. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to the team's hopes of taking the game up to England with his attacking intent and habit to score big scores as the pressure increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests point to his talents, while the player has a ability of finding a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up keeper in the team showed that he should also be considered as a specialist batsman when hitting 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 though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball matches that he has the versatility to bat earlier, which might suit a regular position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The experienced stays despite calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position after tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double ton in the subcontinent earlier this year. However following being among several batters unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a strong beginning 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 retire the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has put a dismal run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to force his way back into the national team – and surely the XI to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne exceptional performance with five hundreds in his recent innings could provide the selectors the confidence to support him to bat first if needed with the opener, though the batsman is probably to worry the opposition when batting at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking efforts after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the series when the team toured England in 2023. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be critical to Australia’s series sweeps in the subcontinent and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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