England Name the off-spinner in Team for Ashes First Test

England have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable England will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, putting Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game after securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

He has been recovering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

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

Probable Team

Still, an England team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the probable result

The initial game begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

England Squad

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - the visitors are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have not won a Test in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have played a international Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"There have been a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times down under

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also coming in due to injuries to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood