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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, bringing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have supported Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a competitive game since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been out with a broken finger and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the scenario of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

The agreement at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - stays the probable result

The opening match commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

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

Team Background

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 contained Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in that period contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - England are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are probably going to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood