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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers combined with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer the curator said to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a official match after claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, returning combined figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the prospect of the spinner competing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

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

Probable Team

However, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the probable result

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

England Squad

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of that year featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he told the press

"There are a lot of players who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood