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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision likely involving the young spinner and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer McDonald stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible England will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has not played a first-class game following securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a county

The agreement at Somerset expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in that period included Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the extended squad have played a international Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he explained to the press

"There have been a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

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

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood