🔗 Share this article

The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision likely involving spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have supported Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a competitive game following claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

His deal at the domestic team ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

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

The side that won at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in that period included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - England are looking to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

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

"It could be an benefit," he mentioned to media outlets

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

The Australian training on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood