🔗 Share this article

The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly between off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in Australia

On Wednesday WA groundsman Isaac McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a official match after securing the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, recording match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a domestic team

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

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that won at domestically in the memorable competition of that year included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period featured Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the English team are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he explained to reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Hazlewood