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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in Australia

Recently local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

But the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have favored the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has missed a first-class game following securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

His deal at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

However, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he explained to media outlets

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

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian net session on recently was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood