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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by selecting spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision probably coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman the curator said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, placing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

However he has not played a official match since claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of him playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

His contract at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the most likely outcome

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that won at domestically in the famous series of 2005 contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"It could be an positive," he explained to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

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

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also being included after injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood