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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four specialists plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the pitch, bringing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in spring he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game following securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the prospect of Bashir playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

His contract at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the English team are aiming to change an poor history - they have not won a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood