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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday WA pitch curator McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also noted a dryness to the pitch, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a official match following claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

It also raises the prospect of Bashir competing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

His deal at his county expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the probable result

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to media outlets

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on recently was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood