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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably involving the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in Australia

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the venue, and it looks possible England will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also noted a dryness to the pitch, placing Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

But he has not played a official match since securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the scenario of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a county

The agreement at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a various English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the English team are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he explained to reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in after injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood