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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week local wicket preparer the curator commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the surface, placing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has missed a first-class game after claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This creates the scenario of him competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an English side including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - England are aiming to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he explained to the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The Australian training on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood