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England have maintained flexibility for the series opener by including slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team alongside five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth on the coming Friday, with the final decision possibly coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer the curator said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the surface, placing Bashir into contention

Spinning Options

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported Shoaib, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a first-class game after taking the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at his county expired at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are looking to change an poor history - they have not won a Test match in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could help the visitors

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

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on recently was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also being included following health issues to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood