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England have kept their options open for the series opener by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision possibly coming down to spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman Isaac McDonald commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also observed a dryness to the wicket, bringing the spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The team have supported Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Tests

However he has not played a first-class game since taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the possibility of him participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

His contract at Somerset ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Still, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features available

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - the English team are looking to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood