🔗 Share this article

England have left decisions open for the series opener by including slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the last selection probably between spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers plus all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week WA groundsman the curator commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a official match since securing the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Issues

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

It also raises the prospect of him playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that won at in England in the famous series of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he explained to reporters

"We've seen a lot of players who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive squad

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included due to health issues to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood