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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week WA groundsman McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have supported Bashir, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has missed a first-class game following taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of Bashir competing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

The agreement at his county expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are aiming to overturn an difficult past - they have not won a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"It could be an advantage," he explained to reporters

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included after health issues to captain Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood