🔗 Share this article

The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly between spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer the curator stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible the English will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the visitors have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have favored Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a first-class game since claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - stays the probable result

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

While a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The side that won at domestically in the memorable competition of that year featured Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - England are hoping to overturn an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have played a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he told the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood