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England have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the visitors have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the off-spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

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

England have supported Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Issues

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the scenario of Bashir participating in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the probable result

The initial game begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to overturn an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since that year

Only five members of the extended squad have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he explained to reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have mentioned they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

The Australian net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood