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England have left decisions open for the series opener by including off-spinner Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes match in the host nation

Earlier this week local wicket preparer the curator stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, putting Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game following taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been suffering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning match figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Team lineup for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

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 same team

The lineup that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the English team are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he explained to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident team

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood