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The English side has maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection likely between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, placing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

In the short history of this venue - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a official match since claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been suffering from a broken finger and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording combined figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner competing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

The agreement at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - the visitors are aiming to change an poor history - they have not won a Test in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

"This might be an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic team

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The host team's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood