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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly between the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently local pitch curator McDonald said to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it looks possible the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the English team have also observed a arid quality to the surface, putting the spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a first-class game following claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

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

Likely Lineup

Still, an visiting team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

Team Selection

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test match in Australia, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"It could be an benefit," he told reporters

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

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

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included following health issues to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood