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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by including slow bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the tourists have also noted a dryness to the pitch, putting the spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a competitive game after taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

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

His contract at Somerset concluded at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

Playing Group

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in that period included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive 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 net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also being included following health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood