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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably between spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia pitch curator the curator said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a official match since claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

Bashir has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

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

The agreement at Somerset ended at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

While a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of that year included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

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

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to change an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he explained to media outlets

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to do something special"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood