England have named a 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test, including both fast bowler Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir.
The final decision on their XI for the opening match of five at the Perth Stadium will be made closer to play getting under way on Friday.
The inclusion of Wood, 35, comes after scans showed no lasting damage to the reaction he felt in his left hamstring, after bowling eight overs in the warm-up match against England Lions at Lilac Hill.
His availability means England are almost certain to go into the match with a five-pronged seam attack, at a venue where 17 wickets tumbled on the first day of the series between Australia and India a year ago.
Durham’s Wood – the fastest bowler in the world – is one of only five tourists who have played Test cricket in Australia before, finishing as England’s leading wicket taker in the 2021-22 series.
A bowler capable of registering 95-mile-per-hour plus on the speed gun has been out for nine months following left knee surgery and has not played a Test match since August 2024.
England have named their squad for the first Ashes Test in Perth, which is now less than 48 hours away
Fast bowler Mark Wood, who picked up a hamstring injury last week, has been included
So too has Shoaib Bashir, having established himself as the side’s No 1 spinner, but conditions make his selection unlikely
But he provides a point of difference to an attack including another 90mph operative Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and England captain Ben Stokes.
Bashir is also named in the squad, having established himself as the side’s No 1 spinner, but conditions make his selection unlikely.
The 22-year-old off-spinner, who is without a county currently after his deal at Somerset expired, has 68 Test wickets in 19 appearances.
He missed the second half of the summer after fracturing his finger in the win over India at Lord’s in July and proved expensive in two dozen overs in the warm-up fixture, claiming two for 151.
However, only if the England think-tank are convinced that the pitch is starting too dry will they countenance his inclusion.
