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England have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision probably between the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

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

Earlier this week WA groundsman McDonald commented to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, placing the spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a first-class game following claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of the spinner competing in an Ashes match without being contracted with a first-class side

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

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

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

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the English team are aiming to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an positive," he explained to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had challenging periods in this country

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood