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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday local groundsman McDonald commented to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of Bashir competing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a county

His deal at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

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

Team Selection

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

Historical Context

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that succeeded at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the English team are hoping to change an poor history - they have not won a Test in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have played a Test in the host nation, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he mentioned to reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Hazlewood