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The tourists have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection possibly between spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday local pitch curator McDonald said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also noted a dryness to the wicket, placing the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game following taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the scenario of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

The agreement at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

Although a several English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - England are aiming to reverse 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 the host nation, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This might be an advantage," he explained to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also joining after health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood