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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly between spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also noted a dryness to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a official match following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

This presents the possibility of him participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a first-class side

His contract at his county concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - stays the probable result

The initial game commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The team that won at domestically in the memorable competition of that year featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in that period included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

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 failed to win a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

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

"There are a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident team

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

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

Host Team Situation

The Australian training on this week was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Cummins and colleague Hazlewood