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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve combined with five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice probably coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday WA pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

However the English team have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, placing Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored Shoaib, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a official match after securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of him playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

His contract at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he told media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood