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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently local groundsman the curator commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also observed a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game since securing the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of him participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Still, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Playing Group

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are aiming to overturn an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an benefit," he mentioned to media outlets

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

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

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included following injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood