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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection probably involving the young spinner and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting Bashir into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of him competing in an Ashes match without being attached to a county

His contract at the domestic team ended at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the probable result

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that won at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent memory - England are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an positive," he explained to the press

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

"For us, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic group

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The host team's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The home side are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included due to health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood