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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection likely involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week WA pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely the English will follow a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also observed a dryness to the pitch, placing the spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a official match since taking the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner playing in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

His contract at Somerset expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an England team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and live action clips accessible

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that won at domestically in the memorable competition of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an benefit," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

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

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are probably going to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to health issues to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood