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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision probably involving spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the venue, and it appears probable the English will follow a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the English team have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Shoaib, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

However he has not played a first-class game since claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

He has been out with a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of him competing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the English team are aiming to change an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since that year

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This might be an advantage," he explained to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had challenging periods in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood