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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five seamers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely involving spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald commented to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a competitive game following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, recording overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

This creates the prospect of him competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at Somerset concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Still, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and live action clips provided

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The team that won at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons included Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the English team are looking to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included following health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood