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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, putting Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game after claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

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

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that won at in England in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons included Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are aiming to overturn an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he told reporters

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

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The host team's practice session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood