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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including spin bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the last selection likely coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

England have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a competitive game after securing the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in recently

Current Concerns

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

His deal at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the probable result

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at domestically in the memorable competition of that year contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons featured Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - the English team are aiming to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he told the press

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included after health issues to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood