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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision probably between off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists plus all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently WA pitch curator McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the tourists have also noted a arid quality to the pitch, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Shoaib, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a competitive game following claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the possibility of Bashir playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a first-class side

His contract at his county ended at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The lineup that won at in England in the famous series of 2005 included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - England are looking to overturn an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he told media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic team

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

Australia's training on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also coming in following fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood