England Name Bashir in Team for Ashes First Test

England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently local wicket preparer McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it seems likely England will adhere to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29

England have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game following claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of him participating in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a domestic team

His deal at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the probable result

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - the visitors are looking to overturn an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he explained to reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood