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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

Recently WA groundsman the curator stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, placing the off-spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have backed Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

He has been suffering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the probable result

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that won at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are looking to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since that year

Only five members of the 16-man squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"This might be an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had challenging periods in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood