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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the English team have also spotted a arid quality to the wicket, placing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have favored the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has not played a first-class game following claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at Somerset concluded at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

However, an England team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that triumphed in those seasons included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the English team are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he mentioned to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

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

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also being included after health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood