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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely involving the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday local groundsman the curator stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely England will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing the off-spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The English management have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a first-class game after taking the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

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

His deal at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the probable result

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

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

Team Background

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - England are hoping to overturn an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

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

"We've seen a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident team

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

The Australian practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are likely to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Brendan Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood