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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the final decision probably coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also observed a dryness to the pitch, putting the spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the youngest England bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

Yet he has been absent from a competitive game after taking the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a broken finger and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

The agreement at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at domestically in the celebrated contest of that year contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are looking to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he mentioned to reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood