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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the last selection possibly between the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable England will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a arid quality to the pitch, putting the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a competitive game after claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner competing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a county

His contract at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The team that won at home in the memorable competition of that year contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the English team are looking to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match 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 comments that could help the visitors

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

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included following injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood