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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between the young spinner and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely England will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the surface, bringing the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has missed a official match since securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Issues

He has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning overall statistics of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

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

The agreement at the domestic team ended at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

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

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - England are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to the press

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times down under

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

Australia's training on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also joining following health issues to captain Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood