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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision probably involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

But the visitors have also noted a dryness to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have supported Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a official match following taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of the spinner participating in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Still, an England team including Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and live action clips available

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

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

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the visitors are aiming to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

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

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

Australia's training on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood