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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have favored Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a competitive game following securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a first-class side

His deal at Somerset concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at home in the memorable competition of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he told media outlets

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

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

The hosts are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood