🔗 Share this article

The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by including off-spinner the young spinner in a squad of twelve combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth on Friday, with the final decision probably between the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week WA groundsman the curator commented to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it appears probable the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the English team have also noted a dryness to the surface, putting Bashir into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

But he has missed a official match since claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

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

His contract at Somerset ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

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

Historical Context

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

The side that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 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 reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since that year

Only five members of the 16-man squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This might be an advantage," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also joining after health issues to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood