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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly between spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the off-spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have supported Shoaib, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Tests

However he has missed a official match since claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

The agreement at his county ended at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

However, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to the press

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had some tough times down under

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

The host team's practice session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also joining following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood