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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision possibly between the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers plus all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer the curator stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a first-class game following claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of him participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

The agreement at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the probable result

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that succeeded at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the visitors are hoping to change an poor history - they have not won a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also joining due to injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood