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England have kept their options open for the series opener by including slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection likely between off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

Recently WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

But the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a first-class game after securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

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

His contract at Somerset ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and live action clips available

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of 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 side that won at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in that period featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the English team are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had challenging periods in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also being included after injuries to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood