🔗 Share this article

The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection possibly between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week local groundsman Isaac McDonald commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the English will follow a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also observed a arid quality to the surface, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he became the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has missed a first-class game since securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

He has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the prospect of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a county

His deal at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that won at domestically in the famous series of 2005 contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the English team are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This might be an benefit," he mentioned to media outlets

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

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

The hosts are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also coming in due to health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood