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The English side has maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision possibly between the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in Australia

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will follow a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

But the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the surface, putting Bashir into the running

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have backed Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game since taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of him competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

His deal at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an advantage," he explained to media outlets

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian practice session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in following health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood