🔗 Share this article

The time for before the Ashes talk and squad speculation is almost over after Australia revealed a 15-member team to face the English side in the first Test. This extended squad for the initial game indicates the necessity for calm heads during the heated Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald selected for the first time in place of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

But with the batsman finding form and the only other uncapped players being two pace replacements, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how every player (listed in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball style, with a star rating reflecting their possible influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is once more selected as a substitute following being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining uncertain, and the remaining front-line attackers confronting a demanding schedule, the veteran will hope to sustain his good form to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in the team has become a target for the opposition for his moderate performances during the previous series as well as for his quiet demeanor off the pitch. But the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a threat at the top level and can embrace the rare chance to begin a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series looking to make his mark with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a far more confident batter if required to lift the run-rate or support the lower-order with a game-changing innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the edges of the Australian side during recent matches and is back following taking a solid haul – including 11 in the final – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s Sheffield Shield. An first appearance is currently attainable as the captain is injured and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been targeted for the national side from an early stage in his journey despite injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to make a major contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the best of the top-order batters while batting at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be selected lower down to make sure he can also assist the bowling unit. If Green can feasibly be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be relied upon to deliver more spells later in the series, could be decided in the domestic round soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate seamer is at the height of his abilities following leading the limited-overs bowling and fine-tuning for the contest during games against India. The veteran’s reliable discipline, and touch of movement whether it be off the seam or in the air, is certain to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring question whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe as many as five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to Australia’s chances of taking the game up to the opposition with his aggressive approach and tendency to score massive runs as the stakes rise. A couple of hundreds against India last summer, and the similar the previous occasion the English visited for a full series highlight his talents, while the 31-year-old has a talent of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underestimated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second keeper in the team demonstrated that he should also be viewed as a pure batsman when pummelling a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most comfortable playing in the middle-order although he has shown while leading Australia in limited-overs matches that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which might suit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains despite demands for a changing of the guard at the top of the order following tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double century in the subcontinent earlier this year. But after being among several batters unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran requires a good start against England’s fast-bowling cartel in what could be his farewell Test series to make sure he can make the call personally on the time to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked batsman has put a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to earn his place again into the national team – and certainly the playing eleven to play in the first Test. Labuschagne exceptional form with five centuries in his last eight knocks might provide the selectors the assurance to support him to open if needed with the opener, though the 31-year-old is probably to trouble England when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The spinner became as notable for his absence as his dismissal efforts following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to turn the series when Australia visited England in 2023. The veteran did not have the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with just a modest haul 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 star batsman will step in to captain the team till C