🔗 Share this article

England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald stated to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has missed a official match after taking the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

His contract at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a various English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at domestically in the famous series of that year included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in that period included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - the English team are aiming to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he mentioned to media outlets

"We've seen a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

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

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

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

Australian Preparations

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

The home side are expected to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood