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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision probably coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely England will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a arid quality to the pitch, bringing the spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

But he has missed a competitive game after claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

He has been suffering from a broken finger and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of him participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - remains the probable result

The initial game commences at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the visitors are looking to change an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had some tough times here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also coming in following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood