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

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection possibly between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also observed a dryness to the surface, placing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain half-century of wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a official match after securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the scenario of him participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a first-class side

His deal at his county ended at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Playing Group

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

Historical Context

While a several English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are hoping to change an poor history - they have not won a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he explained to the press

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

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also coming in following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood