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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection probably coming down to the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists along with all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week local pitch curator McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

But the English team have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

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

Recent Issues

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against England Lions, recording combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the prospect of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed at in England in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in that period included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the English team are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have not won a Test match in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

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

"There have been a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood