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England have kept their options open for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Earlier this week WA pitch curator the curator stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

But the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a competitive game after taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at Somerset expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of that year included Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to overturn an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This might be an benefit," he explained to media outlets

"We've seen a lot of players who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive squad

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Opposition News

The Australian net session on this week was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to health issues to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood