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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week local pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it seems likely the English will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the surface, bringing the spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of him playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the probable result

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

England Squad

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

Historical Context

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that succeeded at in England in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - England are aiming to overturn an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since that year

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he told the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods here in Australia

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

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

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

Australia are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also being included following health issues to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood