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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including slow bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

On Wednesday local wicket preparer the curator commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also noted a dryness to the wicket, bringing the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

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

The English management have backed Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a official match since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, posting match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the prospect of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that triumphed at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the English team are looking to overturn an difficult past - they have not won a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he mentioned to reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian training on recently was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The home side are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood