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The tourists have kept their options open for the series opener by including spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

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

Recently local groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he became the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

His contract at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad 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 celebrated contest of that year featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in 1954-55 featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an advantage," he told reporters

"We've seen a many cricketers who have stated they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood