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The period for pre-Ashes exchanges and squad guesses is almost finished following Australia revealed a 15-man lineup to confront England in the first Test. The expanded group for the series opener suggests the need for composed temperaments during the intense Ashes series, with Jake Weatherald included for the maiden appearance instead of explosive batsman Sam Konstas.

But with Marnus Labuschagne hitting stride and the only other inexperienced members being a pair of pace backups, there is a recognizable feel to the team even without unavailable captain Pat Cummins. Below is the way each member (presented in alphabetical order) will face the Bazball style, with a rating out of five indicating their possible impact on the series beginning on 21 November.

1. Sean Abbott

The veteran seamer is once again selected as a reserve after being a consistent presence in the limited-overs sides in recent years. With Cummins's return still unclear, and the remaining main attackers facing a tough schedule, the 33-year-old will hope to maintain his good form to stay in consideration for a maiden appearance. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best pace bowler in the team has turned into a focus for the opposition for his unflattering returns during the previous series as well as for his calm nature away from the field. But the 36-year-old has not taken a significant haul at an average of 16.53 – featuring a hat-trick in his last Test against the Caribbean side – and has proving to be a danger at international cricket and can embrace the unique opportunity to start a campaign in the opener. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is returning in the intense cauldron of an Ashes series hoping to stand out with the bat and his gloves, as well as for his involvement in a memorable moment when stumping Jonny Bairstow at Lord's in the last series. The veteran is currently a much more composed batsman if needed to lift the run-rate or help steer the tail with a match-turning knock. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The South Australia seamer has been on the periphery of the national team across the last few Test series and is back following claiming 33 wickets – including 11 in the final – at an average of 24.15 in last summer’s domestic competition. An Test cap is now attainable while the captain is sidelined and the key quicks get ready for a gruelling five-match series in a short period. ★☆☆☆☆

Fifth. Cameron Green

The highly-touted all-rounder had been earmarked for the national side from early in his journey even amid fitness issues, and the moment has come for him to make a major impact to a crucial series. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order players while batting at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the Caribbean but could be selected in the order to ensure he can also support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in Perth, or might have to be trusted to deliver bulk overs later in the series, might be determined in the domestic match this week. ★★★☆☆

Sixth. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate fast bowler is at the peak of his abilities following leading the limited-overs attack and preparing for the contest during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s reliable line and length, and touch of seam whether seam movement or in the air, is certain to challenge the tourists’ aggressive method to batting, with the persistent concern if Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even five matches. ★★★★☆

7. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his positive intent and propensity to clobber huge scores as the pressure increase. A couple of centuries against the Indian team last summer, and the same the previous occasion England visited for five Tests point to his talents, while the player has a knack of taking a breakthrough dismissal with his part-time but underrated spin bowling. ★★★★★

8. Josh Inglis

The second keeper in the team demonstrated that he must also be viewed as a pure batter when scoring a hundred at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home batting in the middle-order though he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the flexibility to come in higher up, which might suit a consistent role as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned remains despite calls for a changing of the guard at the top of the order after tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But following being one of many batsmen unable to deal with India’s Jasprit Bumrah previously, the veteran requires a positive start against the English fast-bowling cartel in what might be his final Test series to ensure he can decide personally on the time to hang up the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

10. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked batsman has left behind a dismal run and the disappointment of being omitted behind him to force his way again into the national team – and certainly the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne exceptional form with five hundreds in his recent knocks could provide the selectors the assurance to back him to bat first if required with the opener, although the 31-year-old is more likely to worry the opposition when batting at his favored first-drop. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The spinner was as famous for his absence as his wicket-taking performances following a muscle problem in the second Ashes Test helped change the contest when Australia visited England in the last series. The 37-year-old did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just nine wickets previously but recovered to be critical to the team's series sweeps in the subcontinent and the Caribbean. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

The Australia star batsman will step in to captain the team till C