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The time for pre-Ashes talk and selection speculation is almost done following the Australian team revealed a 15-man squad to face the English side in the first Test. This extended group for the initial game points to the necessity for cool minds during the fiery Ashes series, with the newcomer named for the first time in place of explosive opener Sam Konstas.

Yet with Marnus Labuschagne returning to form and the remaining uncapped members being a pair of fast bowling reserves, there is a known quality to the team despite the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins. Following is how every member (listed in A-Z sequence) will face the aggressive bravado, with a star rating reflecting their potential influence on the campaign starting on 21 November.

First. Sean Abbott

The experienced paceman is once again relied upon as a reserve following being a regular presence in the white-ball sides in recent years. With Cummins's return still unclear, and the remaining key attackers dealing with a gruelling fixture list, the 33-year-old will hope to continue his recent success to stay in consideration for a Test debut. ★☆☆☆☆

2. Scott Boland

The fourth best seamer in the team has turned into a target for England for his modest performances during the previous series as well as for his quiet nature away from the field. Yet the 36-year-old has secured a significant haul at an bowling average of 16.53 – including a hat-trick in his latest Test against the Caribbean side – without being a threat at this level and should embrace the uncommon opportunity to start a campaign in the first match. ★★★☆☆

3. Alex Carey

The first-choice gloveman is returning in the simmering cauldron of an battle aiming to impress with the batting and his gloves, as much as for his role in a unforgettable incident when stumping Jonny Bairstow at the famous ground in the last series. The veteran is now a much more assured batter whether required to score quickly or guide the lower-order with a game-changing contribution. ★★★★☆

4. Brendan Doggett

The state paceman has been on the fringes of the Australian side during recent matches and is returning following taking 33 wickets – including eleven in the last match – at an bowling average of a respectable figure in last summer’s domestic competition. An international debut is currently possible while the captain is sidelined and the front-line quicks get ready for a gruelling five Tests in seven weeks. ★☆☆☆☆

5. Cameron Green

The acclaimed all-rounder had been targeted for the national side from early in his journey even amid injury concerns, and the moment has arrived for him to deliver a important impact to a crucial contest. The 26-year-old was the standout of the top-order players while batting at No 3 in challenging circumstances in the West Indies but could be preferred lower down to make sure he can also support the pace attack. Whether he can realistically be picked as a genuine all-rounder in the first Test, or might have to be trusted to bowl more spells during the series, could be determined in the Sheffield Shield round soon. ★★★☆☆

6. Josh Hazlewood

The accurate seamer is at the peak of his abilities following carrying the white-ball attack and fine-tuning for the Ashes series during matches against the Indian team. The 34-year-old’s consistent line and length, and hint of movement whether off the seam or in the air, is certain to Test the England's front foot approach to batting, with the enduring question whether Hazlewood can feature in four or maybe even all five Tests. ★★★★☆

Seventh. Travis Head

The explosive batsman is critical to the team's chances of seizing the initiative up to the opposition with his aggressive intent and habit to score massive runs as the pressure increase. A pair of centuries against the Indian team recently, and the same the previous occasion the English visited for five Tests highlight his skills, while the 31-year-old has a ability of finding a breakthrough wicket with his occasional but underestimated off-spin. ★★★★★

Eighth. Josh Inglis

The back-up wicketkeeper in the team showed that he must also be considered as a pure batsman when hitting a century at better than a run-a-ball on debut in Sri Lanka. The 30-year-old is most at home playing in the middle-order although he has demonstrated while captaining the team in white-ball games that he has the versatility to come in earlier, which might fit a regular position as the replacement. ★★☆☆☆

Ninth. Usman Khawaja

The seasoned stays despite demands for a new blood at the opening position after tightening his hold on the opening spot with a double century in the subcontinent recently. But after being among several batters failing to handle the Indian the paceman previously, the veteran needs a good beginning against the English pace cartel in what might be his final Test series to make sure he can make the call personally on when to retire the baggy green. ★★☆☆☆

Tenth. Marnus Labuschagne

The former No 1-ranked Test batter has put a poor run and the indignity of being omitted in the past to force his way again into the national team – and surely the playing eleven to feature in the first Test. Labuschagne outstanding performance with five hundreds in his last eight innings might provide the team management the assurance to back him to open if required alongside the opener, although the 31-year-old is probably to worry England when playing at his favored number three. ★★★★☆

11. Nathan Lyon

The off-spinner became as famous for his missing presence as his wicket-taking performances after a muscle problem in the second match helped turn the series when Australia visited the UK in the last series. The veteran did not have the domestic series he would have wanted against the Indian team with just a modest haul previously but recovered to be key to the team's series sweeps in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. ★★★☆☆

12. Steve Smith (captain)

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