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England have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it looks possible the tourists will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

However he has not played a competitive game after claiming the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and struggled in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of him competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a domestic team

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

Expected Selection

Still, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - stays the probable result

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are looking to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since 2011

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

"This might be an advantage," he told reporters

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive team

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood