🔗 Share this article

The tourists have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely between off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

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

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible England will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has missed a first-class game since securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

His deal at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The opening match commences at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that won at in England in the memorable competition of that year included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are aiming to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

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

The home side are likely to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood