🔗 Share this article

The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer McDonald commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a arid quality to the pitch, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have supported Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

However he has not played a first-class game since taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the prospect of him playing in an Ashes match without being contracted with a domestic team

The agreement at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

However, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights provided

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that won at in England in the memorable competition of that year featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - England are hoping to change an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he told reporters

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

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

Opposition News

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

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood