The visitors Name Bashir in Team for Ashes First Test

England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision probably involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia groundsman the curator commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible England will follow a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The team have favored the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a competitive game since securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a first-class side

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

Probable Team

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips available

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are hoping to overturn an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood