🔗 Share this article

England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by including slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, putting the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The English management have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game since securing the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the possibility of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

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

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of that year featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the English team are looking to change an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

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

"This could represent an positive," he mentioned to the press

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times in this country

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood