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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, bringing Bashir into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a official match since securing the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

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

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a Test in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

"This might be an benefit," he told the press

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood