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The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four specialists along with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently Western Australia pitch curator the curator stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable England will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has missed a official match since taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

His contract at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

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

Historical Context

While a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The lineup that won at in England in the celebrated contest of that year featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since that year

Only five members of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also coming in due to health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood