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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by including slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection likely between the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday WA groundsman the curator said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a official match after claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of the spinner competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

His contract at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - remains the probable result

The opening match begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - the visitors are aiming to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he mentioned to the press

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

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are likely to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood