🔗 Share this article

England have kept their options open for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection probably involving the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely England will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

But the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has not played a first-class game following securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of him playing in an Ashes match without being contracted with a first-class side

His contract at his county expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons featured Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he told media outlets

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to do something special"

Host Team Situation

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

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also coming in after health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood