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The phase for pre-Ashes talk and squad predictions is almost over following Australia revealed a 15-player team to face England in the Perth Test. The expanded group for the series opener suggests the need for cool heads during the fiery battle, with the newcomer included for the debut instead of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining new players being two pace backups, there is a known quality to the selection even without injured captain Pat Cummins. Following is the way each member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the Bazball approach, with a star rating reflecting their likely influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The seasoned seamer is once more selected as a substitute after being a consistent presence in the white-ball teams in the past few years. As Cummins's return still unknown, and the remaining key bowlers facing a gruelling fixture list, the veteran will want to maintain his good form to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in Australia has turned into a focus for the opposition for his moderate returns during the previous series as much as for his quiet personality away from the pitch. But the veteran has not taken a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a threat at this level and ought to embrace the rare opportunity to begin a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

Third. Alex Carey

The preferred gloveman is returning in the high-pressure atmosphere of an battle hoping to stand out with the bat and his keeping, as well as for his involvement in a unforgettable incident when stumping the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is now a much more confident batter whether required to lift the run-rate or guide the lower-order with a match-turning contribution. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia fast bowler has been on the periphery of the Australian side during the last few Test series and is back after claiming 33 wickets – featuring 11 in the final – at an average of a respectable figure in the previous Sheffield Shield. An Test cap is currently attainable while Cummins is sidelined and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The promising player had been targeted for the national side from early in his journey despite fitness issues, and the time has arrived for him to deliver a significant contribution to a pivotal contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting batters while batting at first drop in challenging conditions in the West Indies but might be preferred lower down to make sure he can also support the bowling unit. Whether he can realistically be picked as a true bowling option in the first Test, or may have to be trusted to deliver more spells later in the campaign, might be determined in the domestic round soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following carrying the white-ball bowling and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s reliable accuracy, and hint of movement whether seam movement or swing, is bound to Test the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the ongoing concern whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even all five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The devastating batsman is critical to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and propensity to hit massive runs as the pressure rise. A pair of hundreds against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion England toured for a full series demonstrate his abilities, while the player has a ability of taking a key wicket with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he should also be considered as a specialist batsman when pummelling a century at more than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order though he has shown while captaining the team in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which might suit a regular role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid demands for a new blood at the opening position after strengthening his grip on the opening spot with a double century in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Yet following being among several batsmen unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran needs a strong beginning against England’s pace attack in what could be his farewell Test series to ensure he can decide himself on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor form and the indignity of being omitted in the past to earn his place again into the national team – and surely the XI to play in Perth. His exceptional performance with five centuries in his recent knocks could provide the team management the confidence to support him to open if required alongside the opener, although the 31-year-old is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as notable for his absence as his dismissal efforts following a calf injury in the second match contributed to change the series when Australia toured England in the last series. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets previously but recovered to be key to Australia’s series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to lead the team till C