🔗 Share this article

The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably involving the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week local pitch curator McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the surface, putting Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of this venue - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a first-class game following claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been out with a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a county

His deal at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a several English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - England are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, very positive squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Host Team Situation

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

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood