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The time for before the Ashes banter and squad predictions is almost over after Australia announced a 15-man squad to take on the English side in the Perth Test. This extended group for the initial game suggests the need for composed minds during the fiery contest, with Jake Weatherald selected for the maiden appearance in place of fiery batsman Sam Konstas.

However with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining uncapped members being a pair of pace backups, there is a known quality to the selection despite the absence of unavailable skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how each member (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the aggressive style, with a rating out of five showing their likely impact on the series starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran paceman is once more selected as a substitute after being a regular member in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With the captain's comeback still unclear, and the other main attackers facing a demanding fixture list, the veteran will aim to sustain his recent success to remain in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in Australia has emerged as a focus for England for his unflattering returns during the previous series as much as for his quiet personality away from the pitch. However the veteran has claimed a significant haul at an average of an impressive figure – including a hat-trick in his most recent Test against West Indies – and has being a danger at the top level and ought to embrace the uncommon opportunity to start a series in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The preferred wicketkeeper is back in the intense atmosphere of an battle hoping to impress with the bat and his keeping, as much as for his role in a unforgettable incident when dismissing the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is currently a far more composed batter if required to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a decisive innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state seamer has been on the fringes of the national team across the last few matches and is back after claiming a solid haul – featuring eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An first appearance is now possible while Cummins is injured and the front-line fast bowlers get ready for a demanding five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been targeted for the Test team from an early stage in his career even amid injury concerns, and the time has arrived for him to make a important contribution to a pivotal series. The 26-year-old was the pick of the batting players while batting at first drop in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but could be selected lower down to ensure he can also support the bowling unit. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be trusted to bowl bulk overs during the series, might be decided in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate fast bowler is at the height of his powers following carrying the white-ball bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent accuracy, and hint of seam whether off the seam or in the air, is sure to Test the England's aggressive approach to batting, with the ongoing question if Hazlewood can feature in four or perhaps as many as all five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is crucial to the team's chances of taking the game up to the opposition with his attacking approach and habit to score big scores as the stakes increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion England visited for a full series point to his abilities, while the player has a talent of finding a key wicket with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the squad proved that he should also be viewed as a specialist batsman when hitting a century at better than a quick rate on his first appearance in the subcontinent. The player is most at home batting in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while captaining Australia in limited-overs games that he has the flexibility to bat higher up, which could fit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran stays even amid calls for a transition at the opening position following strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. Yet after being one of many batsmen unable to deal with the Indian Jasprit Bumrah last summer, the veteran requires a strong start against the English pace cartel in what could be his farewell campaign to ensure he can make the call himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex No 1-ranked Test batter has put a poor form and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way again into the national team – and surely the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne blistering form with five centuries in his recent innings could give the team management the confidence to back him to open if required alongside the opener, though the batsman is probably to trouble the opposition when batting at his preferred first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his dismissal performances following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the contest when the team toured the UK in 2023. The veteran failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against India with only nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be vital to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

Twelfth. Steve Smith (captain)

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