🔗 Share this article

The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator the curator commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have favored Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of him participating in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at Somerset ended at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

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

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood