🔗 Share this article

England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection possibly coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Earlier this week WA groundsman the curator stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

But the English team have also spotted a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29

England have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game following claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, posting overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a first-class side

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

Likely Lineup

However, an England team featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - remains the probable result

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

England Squad

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of that year contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the visitors are hoping to change an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since 2011

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

"This might be an positive," he explained to media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also being included due to health issues to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood