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The time for before the Ashes talk and selection speculation is almost finished after the Australian team unveiled a 15-player team to take on England in the first Test. The expanded group for the first match points to the need for composed temperaments during the heated Ashes series, with the newcomer included for the first time in place of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

However with the batsman finding form and the only other inexperienced players being a pair of fast bowling replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Below is how every player (presented in A-Z sequence) will confront the Bazball bravado, with a rating out of five reflecting their likely influence on the series beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is again trusted as a reserve after being a consistent member in the white-ball teams in recent years. As the captain's comeback remaining unclear, and the remaining main bowlers facing a tough schedule, the veteran will aim to sustain his recent success to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in Australia has become a object for the opposition for his unflattering performances during the previous series as well as for his reserved demeanor away from the pitch. Yet the veteran has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against West Indies – without proving to be a force at international cricket and ought to welcome the uncommon chance to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The main wicketkeeper is returning in the simmering cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to impress with the batting and his keeping, as much as for his involvement in a memorable incident when dismissing the English batsman at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a far more composed batter if required to score quickly or help steer the tail with a game-changing innings. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the fringes of the national team during the last few matches and is returning after claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is currently attainable as Cummins is injured and the front-line fast bowlers prepare for a demanding five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted player had been targeted for the national side from early in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the moment has come for him to deliver a major contribution to a pivotal contest. The youngster was the standout of the batting batters while coming in at first drop in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but might be preferred in the order to ensure he can additionally assist the bowling unit. If he can realistically be selected as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs during the series, could be decided in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities following leading the white-ball attack and getting ready for the contest during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s consistent line and length, and hint of movement whether it be off the seam or in the air, is sure to challenge the England's aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring concern whether Hazlewood can play four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is critical to Australia’s hopes of seizing the initiative against England with his attacking approach and habit to score big runs as the stakes rise. A pair of hundreds against India last summer, and the similar the last time the English visited for a full series point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a ability of finding a key dismissal with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the squad demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a pure batter when hitting a century at better than a run-a-ball on his first appearance in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle of the innings though he has shown while captaining Australia in limited-overs games that he has the versatility to bat higher up, which might suit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The veteran remains even amid demands for a transition at the top of the order after strengthening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Yet following being among several batters failing to deal with the Indian the paceman last summer, the veteran requires a positive start against the English fast-bowling cartel in what could be his final campaign to make sure he can decide himself on when to hang up the cap. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former top-ranked Test batter has put a poor run and the disappointment of being dropped in the past to force his way again into the national team – and surely the XI to play in the first Test. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight innings might provide the selectors the assurance to support him to bat first if needed with Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is more likely to worry the opposition when batting at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the home campaign he would have wanted against the Indian team with just a modest haul last summer but bounced back to be critical to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will take over to captain the side until C