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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision possibly involving spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the English team have also observed a arid quality to the surface, placing Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a competitive game since securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of him participating in an Ashes Test without being attached to a domestic team

His deal at Somerset expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

However, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

Team Selection

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of that year included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that triumphed in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - the English team are hoping to overturn an awful record - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he mentioned to reporters

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on this week was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood