England Name Shoaib Bashir in Team for Ashes Initial Match

The tourists have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday WA groundsman the curator said to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also spotted a arid quality to the pitch, bringing the off-spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have backed Shoaib, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a official match since claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over India in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of Bashir competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features available

Playing Group

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

Team Background

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that won at home in the famous series of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he explained to reporters

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to create history"

Opposition News

The host team's practice session on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood