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The tourists have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly between spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday WA groundsman McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely England will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a official match after claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a finger injury and struggled in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

This creates the prospect of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being attached to a first-class side

His deal at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Still, an England team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a several English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at in England in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are aiming to reverse an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods in this country

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

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood