The English team Name Shoaib Bashir in Squad for The Ashes series First Test

Cricket action

He has secured 68 wickets at an 39 average across 19 five-day games

The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the venue, and it looks possible England will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, bringing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have favored the young spinner, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, returning combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

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

Probable Team

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to overturn an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have experienced a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he told reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, very positive squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood

Katie Miles
Katie Miles

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