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England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly involving spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in Australia

Recently WA groundsman the curator stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also noted a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has missed a official match after claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against England Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

His deal at the domestic team ended at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - the English team are looking to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have played a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an advantage," he explained to reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had some tough times in this country

"For us, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also being included due to injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood