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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

Recently WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, bringing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The team have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in May he became the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game after taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

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

Probable Team

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - the visitors are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

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

"This might be an benefit," he told the press

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a massive chance to do something special"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining after health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood