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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming spin bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve together with five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week local pitch curator the curator commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he became the youngest England bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a competitive game following taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

His contract at Somerset ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit high speeds - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in that period included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - the English team are aiming to change an poor history - they have not won a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

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

Opposition News

The Australian net session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also joining following injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood