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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the ultimate choice likely involving the young spinner and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game since taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning overall statistics of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a county

His contract at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"This might be an advantage," he explained to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

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

Opposition News

The Australian net session on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also joining after health issues to captain Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood