🔗 Share this article

The English side has maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably between off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently local pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, bringing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a first-class game following claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the prospect of the spinner competing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at his county concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

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

England Squad

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

Historical Context

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at home in the famous series of that year included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - England are looking to change an poor history - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the 16-man squad have played a Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

"This might be an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"There are a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

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

Host Team Situation

The Australian training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included after health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood