The English team Include Shoaib Bashir in Team for Ashes First Test

The tourists have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision probably coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer the curator stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a official match after securing the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

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

His deal at Somerset expired at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

However, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

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

Team Background

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to change an poor history - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

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

"It could be an advantage," he explained to media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive team

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

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

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood