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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection probably involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week WA groundsman McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also observed a dryness to the wicket, putting the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have favored Shoaib, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game after taking the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

His contract at Somerset ended at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an English side including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that triumphed in that period featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to change an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he mentioned to media outlets

"There are a many cricketers who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood