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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the final decision probably involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will stick to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, placing the spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over India in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been suffering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of him participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

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

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 included Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - the English team are aiming to overturn an poor history - they have failed to win a Test match in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he explained to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood