🔗 Share this article

The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the final decision possibly involving the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently WA groundsman the curator said to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting Bashir into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has not played a competitive game after taking the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a broken finger and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an England team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The side that won at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the English team are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he told the press

"There are a many cricketers who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

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

Australian Preparations

The Australian training on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood