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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision possibly involving the young spinner and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, bringing the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have favored Shoaib, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in recent months he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game following taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of him participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at Somerset ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

England Squad

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at domestically in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the English team are aiming to change an difficult past - they have not won a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The Australian training on recently was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included following fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood