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England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly involving off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman the curator stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

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

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29

The English management have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game since taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

He has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir playing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

His deal at his county expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Still, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - remains the probable result

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - England are hoping to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

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

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood