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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly involving spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday WA pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, placing the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has not played a first-class game after taking the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in July

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

His deal at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Still, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a various English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the famous series of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent memory - the English team are hoping to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

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

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood