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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably coming down to the young spinner and seamer Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four specialists plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday local pitch curator the curator stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have supported Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests

However he has not played a official match since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of him competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Still, an English side including Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the probable result

The first Test commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

England Squad

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at domestically in the famous series of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - England are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told the press

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

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

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also being included following fitness concerns to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood