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England have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald commented to look for "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the surface, bringing the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has not played a first-class game after claiming the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at Lord's in recently

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, recording match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This presents the possibility of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a first-class side

His deal at Somerset expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - stays the probable result

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

England Squad

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a various English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The side that succeeded at domestically in the famous series of that year featured Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

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

Current Situation

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - the visitors are looking to reverse an poor history - they have not won a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test in the host nation, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he explained to reporters

"There have been a numerous athletes who have said they have had challenging periods down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on this week was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also being included after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood