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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting slow bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad together with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

But he has missed a official match since securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the scenario of him playing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 contained Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the English team are hoping to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood