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The tourists have kept their options open for the series opener by including slow bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the last selection likely coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week WA groundsman Isaac McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have favored the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a competitive game since claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

It also raises the possibility of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at his county concluded at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

However, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the English team are hoping to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods here in Australia

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

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's training on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also coming in due to injuries to captain Cummins and colleague Hazlewood