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The English side has maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision possibly between off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week WA groundsman Isaac McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible England will stick to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, bringing the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have backed Shoaib, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

However he has not played a official match since taking the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of him playing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

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

Probable Team

However, an England team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the probable result

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are looking to overturn an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"It could be an advantage," he mentioned to the press

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

"For us, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian net session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood