🔗 Share this article

England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

On Wednesday local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The team have supported Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a official match following claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a county

His contract at his county concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Still, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features provided

England Squad

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a number of England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - England are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in the host country since that year

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

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

"In our case, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

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

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also coming in due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood