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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the last selection possibly involving the young spinner and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

Recently Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

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

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

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

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

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since that year

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

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

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also joining due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood