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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the last selection possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, placing the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have backed Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a official match after claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

The agreement at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

However, an English side including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent memory - the English team are looking to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

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

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Hazlewood