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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection possibly between the young spinner and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in Australia

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer McDonald commented to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also observed a dryness to the surface, bringing Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a competitive game after securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

His deal at Somerset expired at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an England team featuring Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the famous series of 2005 included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - the English team are aiming to reverse an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

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

"There have been a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The Australian practice session on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also being included due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood