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

Wood has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have fielded in an Ashes match in this country

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer the curator said to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the English team have also noted a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a competitive game since taking the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a broken finger and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

This creates the prospect of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His contract at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - stays the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

England Squad

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in due to injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood