Marnus Labuschagne is back in Australia's squad to start the Ashes series, with selectors showing faith on the veteran batter by including him in a 15-member group for the first Test against England, starting November 21 in Perth.

Labuschagne was left out of Australia's three-match Test series in the Caribbean earlier this year after a lean run of form but has regained confidence with some big scores in Sheffield Shield. The 58-Test veteran hasn't hit a century since the 2023 Ashes in England.

Opening batter Jake Weatherald could make his debut in the Ashes opener after being selected ahead of Matt Renshaw and 20-year-old Sam Konstas, although that depends on who is picked to open with Usman Khawaja.

Weatherald was the highest run-getter in the Sheffield Shield tournament last summer with 906 runs at an average of 50.33.

Steve Smith will lead Australia in the first Ashes Test in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, who is still recovering from a lower back problem.

Scott Boland is likely to join Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the pace attack, with uncapped Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott also featuring in the squad as pace-bowling options. Allrounders Beau Webster and Cameron Green have also been chosen in the squad.

The Australian players have either been involved in first-class cricket with their states to prepare for the Ashes or playing against India in the ongoing white-ball series.

Green's condition and ability to bowl spells as part of a pace attack will be one of the things selectors will be monitoring in next week's round of the domestic first-class competition.

“We've got 14 out of our 15-man squad playing a round of the Sheffield Shield, still some information to gather from that — Cameron Green returning to the bowling crease being one of them,” selector George Bailey said on Wednesday. "We'll get through these 14 guys playing, get the information and then work on the XI.”

Bailey said selectors would like to see Green, who at 26 is considerably younger than the rest of the bowling group, bowl between 15 and 20 overs for West Australia against Queensland in Perth to assess his recovery from side soreness.

“That's pretty close to what you need from your allrounder,” Bailey said. "We're still 2 1/2 weeks from that first Test, so we will build up from there.”

Australia’s squad for first Ashes Test: Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

(With inputs from Associated Press)