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The time for pre-Ashes talk and selection predictions is almost over after the Australian team announced a 15-player team to take on England in the Perth Test. The larger squad for the initial game indicates the requirement for composed temperaments during the heated battle, with the newcomer selected for the debut instead of aggressive opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne finding form and the remaining uncapped members being a pair of pace replacements, there is a sense of familiarity to the selection even without injured skipper Pat Cummins. Following is how every member (presented in alphabetical order) will face the aggressive style, with a rating out of five indicating their likely impact on the campaign starting on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The experienced seamer is once again trusted as a back-up after being a consistent presence in the limited-overs teams in the past few years. With Cummins's return remaining uncertain, and the remaining key bowlers dealing with a tough schedule, the veteran will aim to maintain his strong performances to stay in contention for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

Second. Scott Boland

Among the top seamer in the team has become a focus for England for his modest returns during the previous series as well as for his quiet demeanor off the pitch. Yet the veteran has secured a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – featuring a three in three in his last Test against the Caribbean side – without proving to be a threat at this level and ought to welcome the rare opportunity to begin a series in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is back in the high-pressure cauldron of an Ashes series looking to stand out with the batting and his gloves, as well as for his role in a memorable moment when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in the last series. The 34-year-old is now a far more assured batter whether needed to accelerate 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 the last few Test series and is back after taking a solid haul – including 11 in the last match – at an bowling average of 24.15 in the previous domestic competition. An international debut is currently possible while Cummins is sidelined and the front-line quicks get ready for a demanding five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been targeted for the Test team from early in his career despite fitness issues, 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 coming in at No 3 in difficult conditions in the West Indies but might be selected in the order to make sure he can also support the pace attack. Whether Green can feasibly be selected as a true all-rounder in the first Test, or may have to be trusted to deliver more spells during the series, might be determined in the domestic match soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The metronomic seamer is at the peak of his abilities following leading the limited-overs bowling and getting ready for the contest during games against the Indian team. The veteran’s consistent discipline, and touch of seam whether seam movement or in the air, is bound to challenge the tourists’ front foot approach to scoring, with the enduring question if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe as many as all five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The aggressive batter is crucial to Australia’s hopes of taking the game against the opposition with his attacking intent and habit to clobber big scores as the pressure rise. A couple of centuries against India recently, and the same the previous occasion England toured for a full series highlight his abilities, while the 31-year-old has a knack of taking a key wicket with his part-time but underrated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The second wicketkeeper in the squad showed that he should additionally be considered as a specialist batsman when hitting a century at better than a quick rate on debut in Sri Lanka. The player is most comfortable playing in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while leading the team in white-ball matches that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which might suit a consistent position as the concussion substitute. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned keeps hanging on even amid calls for a new blood at the opening position after tightening his hold on the first wicket with a double ton in the subcontinent recently. However after being among several batsmen unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the 38-year-old requires a strong beginning against the English pace attack in what could be his farewell campaign to make sure he can make the call personally on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The ex top-ranked batsman has left behind a poor form and the indignity of being omitted behind him to earn his place back into the Australia squad – and surely the XI to play in Perth. Labuschagne outstanding form with five hundreds in his recent innings could give the selectors the confidence to back him to open if needed alongside Khawaja, though the 31-year-old is more likely to worry England when playing at his preferred number three. ★★★★☆

Eleventh. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner was as famous for his missing presence as his dismissal efforts following a calf injury in the second Ashes Test helped turn the contest when the team visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old failed to deliver the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with only nine wickets last summer but recovered to be critical to the team's clean sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australian star batsman will step in to captain the team until C