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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice probably involving the young spinner and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing the spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a official match following claiming the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the possibility of Bashir competing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features available

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in 1954-55 included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the English team are hoping to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also joining after health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood