🔗 Share this article

England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week WA groundsman McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely England will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, putting the spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game since claiming the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of him competing in an Ashes match without being attached to a county

His deal at the domestic team concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an England team including Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features available

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that won at home in the celebrated contest of that year featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are hoping to change an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

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

"We've seen a lot of players who have stated they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The Australian training on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The home side are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood