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England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting slow bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision possibly between the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it seems likely the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, bringing Bashir into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

However he has not played a official match following securing the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of him competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a county

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features provided

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - England are hoping to change an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he mentioned to reporters

"We've seen a lot of players who have said they have had some tough times down under

"For us, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

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

Australia are likely to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood