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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday WA groundsman the curator commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a arid quality to the surface, putting Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game following claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

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

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

Expected Selection

However, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at in England in the famous series of that year included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in that period featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

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

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood