The visitors Include Shoaib Bashir in Team for The Ashes series Opener

England have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes match in the host nation

Recently WA pitch curator the curator said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

However the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have backed Shoaib, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he became the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a official match since claiming the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of Bashir playing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team ended at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features available

Team Selection

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a various English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that won at domestically in the famous series of that year included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he told reporters

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also coming in due to injuries to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood