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England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer the curator said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the English will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

Yet he has not played a competitive game after claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, posting combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that won at home in the famous series of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - the visitors are aiming to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

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

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's net session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also being included following fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood