The visitors Select Shoaib Bashir in Team for Ashes First Test

The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection likely between spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman the curator said to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will follow a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the surface, putting Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have supported the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a competitive game since securing the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of him playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a first-class side

The agreement at his county concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

England Squad

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at in England in the memorable competition of that year featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to change an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"It could be an advantage," he explained to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

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

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also being included due to injuries to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood