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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice likely between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a first-class game following securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of the spinner playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the probable result

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

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

The team that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of that year contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he told media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood