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The time for before the Ashes exchanges and squad predictions is almost finished following Australia announced a 15-member squad to take on England in the first Test. The expanded group for the initial game suggests the need for cool temperaments during the fiery Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald named for the maiden appearance replacing explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the only other inexperienced members being two pace replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Here is the way every member (presented in A-Z sequence) will tackle the Bazball approach, with a rating out of five indicating their potential impact on the campaign beginning on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The seasoned paceman is once again selected as a reserve following being a regular member in the limited-overs sides in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining unclear, and the other main bowlers confronting a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will aim to maintain his recent success to stay in contention for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

Among the top pace bowler in Australia has become a target for the opposition for his modest returns during the previous series as much as for his calm nature off the field. Yet the 36-year-old has secured 62 wickets at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his most recent Test against the Caribbean side – without being a threat at the top level and should seize the uncommon opportunity to start a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is back in the intense atmosphere of an Ashes series aiming to impress with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his involvement in a memorable moment when stumping the English batsman at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a much more composed batter whether required to score quickly or help steer the lower-order with a decisive knock. ★★★★☆

Fourth. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the fringes of the national team during the last few Test series and is returning after taking 33 wickets – featuring eleven in the final – at an average of a respectable figure in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is currently attainable as the captain is injured and the key fast bowlers prepare for a demanding five Tests in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The acclaimed all-rounder had been identified for the national side from early in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the moment has come for him to deliver a significant impact to a pivotal contest. The youngster was the best of the batting batters while coming in at first drop in challenging conditions in the West Indies but could be preferred in the order to ensure he can additionally support the pace attack. Whether Green can realistically be picked as a genuine bowling option in Perth, or may have to be relied upon to deliver more spells during the campaign, could be decided in the domestic round this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic pace bowler is at the peak of his abilities after carrying the white-ball bowling and preparing for the Ashes series during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s reliable discipline, and hint of swing whether seam movement or swing, is bound to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to scoring, with the enduring concern whether Hazlewood can play four or maybe even five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is vital to Australia’s hopes of taking the game up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and tendency to clobber big scores as the stakes rise. A pair of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion the English toured for five Tests point to his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a ability of finding a key wicket with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The reserve keeper in the team demonstrated that he should additionally be viewed as a specialist batsman when scoring a hundred at more than a run-a-ball on debut in the subcontinent. The player is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has shown while leading Australia in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to bat earlier, which could suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

9. Usman Khawaja

The veteran remains even amid calls for a changing of the guard at the opening position following strengthening his grip on the opening spot with a double ton in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Yet after being one of many batters unable to handle the Indian the paceman previously, the veteran needs a strong start against the English pace cartel in what could be his farewell campaign to make sure he can decide himself on when to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked Test batter has put a dismal form and the indignity of being dropped in the past to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and certainly the XI to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his last eight knocks might give the selectors the confidence to back him to bat first if required alongside the opener, though the 31-year-old is more likely to worry England when playing at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking efforts after a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test contributed to change the series when Australia visited the UK in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the home campaign he hoped for against the Indian team with just nine wickets last summer but bounced back to be key to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia batting great will take over to captain the side until C