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The English side has maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer the curator stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, placing the spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

But he has missed a competitive game since claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a first-class side

His contract at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the probable result

The initial game begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he explained to the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's training on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood