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The tourists have kept their options open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision possibly between spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Recently Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible England will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

Yet the English team have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a first-class game following securing the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of him playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

His contract at Somerset expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the probable result

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

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

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - the English team are aiming to reverse an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

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

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

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

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

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood