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The English side has maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have favored the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an England team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and real-time features available

England Squad

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a various English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at in England in the memorable competition of that year contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

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

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are aiming to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he explained to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian training on this week was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood