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England have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable the English will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also observed a dryness to the surface, putting Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

But he has not played a competitive game following claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at the domestic team expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since that year

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Hazlewood