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

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the last selection possibly between spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists along with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week local pitch curator McDonald commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also noted a arid quality to the pitch, placing Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests

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

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a first-class side

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

Likely Lineup

However, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an advantage," he explained to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood