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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by including slow bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly involving the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the English will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also noted a dryness to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Test matches

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

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

While a several English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent memory - England are looking to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he explained to the press

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

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

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

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

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in after injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood