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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the final decision possibly between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer the curator stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable England will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the English team have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have favored Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game following securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of him playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes included Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are looking to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since that year

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"This might be an benefit," he mentioned to reporters

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The home side are probably going to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood