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The English side has left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision probably coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Recently Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has missed a official match since securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of him competing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His deal at Somerset expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an English side featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the probable result

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Playing Group

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to change an awful record - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told media outlets

"There are a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

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

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

Australia's net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also coming in due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood