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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a official match since securing the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

His contract at his county expired at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are looking to overturn an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood