🔗 Share this article

England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The team have supported Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

His deal at his county concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the English team are looking to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

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

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's training on this week was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also being included following health issues to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood