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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision probably involving spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman Isaac McDonald commented to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he became the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has not played a official match following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of him competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

His deal at Somerset expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The opening match begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - the English team are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an benefit," he told reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

"In our case, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood