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The tourists have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision likely involving the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

On Wednesday local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the English team have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Shoaib, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a official match following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in July

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

His deal at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching high speeds - continues to be the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features provided

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The side that succeeded at home in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that triumphed in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - England are aiming to change an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an advantage," he told reporters

"There have been a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian practice session on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also joining following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood