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England have left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also noted a dryness to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a competitive game after claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

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

Probable Team

However, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features provided

Playing Group

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since that year

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

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

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included following fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood