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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the series opener by including off-spinner Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently WA groundsman the curator stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

But he has missed a first-class game after claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of Bashir playing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - remains the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features available

Playing Group

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are hoping to reverse an awful record - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

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

"It could be an benefit," he explained to reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on this week was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood