Mark Wood has been declared fit and is in line to feature in the opening Ashes Test against Australia in Perth on Friday, as England named a 12-man squad on Wednesday. The visitors have kept their options open by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir alongside five fast bowlers for the series opener.

England are considering an all-pace attack comprising four specialist quicks plus all-rounder Ben Stokes, a combination that could make it one of the fastest bowling units they have ever fielded in an Ashes Test in Australia. The final call is likely to be between off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse.

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Although the pitch at the Optus Stadium is expected to offer pace and bounce, prompting England to consider a full pace battery, the surface’s dryness has also brought Bashir

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