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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by including slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five pace bowlers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently local wicket preparer the curator stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely the English will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

Yet the English team have also observed a dryness to the wicket, bringing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

But he has not played a first-class game following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been out with a finger injury and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning match figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips available

Playing Group

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a various English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in that period featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the visitors are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he mentioned to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had some tough times in this country

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also coming in due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood