The English team Select Shoaib Bashir in Team for Ashes First Test

The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by including slow bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer the curator commented to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the English team have also observed a arid quality to the wicket, placing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have favored the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game since securing the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

Bashir has been out with a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

The agreement at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

However, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips provided

England Squad

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of that year included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - the visitors are looking to overturn an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This might be an benefit," he told reporters

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Doggett also being included after health issues to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood