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England have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five pace bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently WA wicket preparer the curator commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, bringing the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a official match following taking the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

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

The agreement at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

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

Team Background

Although a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at domestically in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he mentioned to reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in after injuries to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood