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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Earlier this week local groundsman Isaac McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he became the least experienced English bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a official match since securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This presents the prospect of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - remains the probable result

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of that year included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in that period featured Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

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

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

Australia's net session on this week was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood