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The English side has left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald commented to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, putting the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game since claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a broken finger and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the prospect of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

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

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - England are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an positive," he told the press

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

The Australian practice session on recently was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood