🔗 Share this article

England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the last selection likely involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week WA groundsman Isaac McDonald commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

But the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the wicket, bringing Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a official match following securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a number of English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to change an difficult past - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an benefit," he told reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to do something special"

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood