🔗 Share this article

England have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the final decision probably between the young spinner and pace bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week local pitch curator McDonald stated to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, bringing Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Shoaib, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

He has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of him participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His contract at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

However, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the probable result

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of that year contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the English team are aiming to change an difficult past - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in Australia, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he explained to media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic team

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The Australian training on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood