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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week WA groundsman the curator commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely England will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, placing Bashir into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have backed Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a competitive game following claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, recording combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the prospect of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

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

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that won at home in the celebrated contest of that year contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in those seasons featured Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent years - the visitors are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have experienced a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he mentioned to the press

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

The host team's training on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood