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The English side has maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, placing Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Shoaib, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a official match after securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the prospect of the spinner competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

The agreement at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features provided

England Squad

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

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

The team that triumphed at domestically in the famous series of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in 1954-55 included Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

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

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"This might be an advantage," he mentioned to reporters

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

"For us, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

The Australian net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also coming in due to injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood