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England have kept their options open for the series opener by including spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the last selection probably coming down to the young spinner and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer the curator stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, bringing the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

England have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game following taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, returning overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of him playing in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

His deal at the domestic team ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and real-time features accessible

England Squad

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are hoping to overturn an difficult past - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to reporters

"There have been a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic team

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

The Australian net session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood