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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer the curator stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also noted a dryness to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a competitive game following claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

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

Probable Team

Still, an England team containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at domestically in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in that period included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in modern times - the English team are aiming to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an benefit," he explained to media outlets

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood