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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week local wicket preparer the curator commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also noted a dryness to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a official match since claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir competing in an Ashes match without being attached to a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that won at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in that period featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he told the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

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

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The Australian training on this week was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood