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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the final decision possibly involving spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also noted a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a competitive game following claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of him playing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

His deal at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Playing Group

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

Historical Context

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons included Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

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

"There have been a lot of players who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The host team's training on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are likely to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood