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England have left decisions open for the series opener by naming off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection likely between the young spinner and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also observed a lack of moisture to the surface, putting the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have supported Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a first-class game after claiming the last dismissal in a dramatic victory over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of him participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

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

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that succeeded at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are aiming to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

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

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on recently was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are probably going to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also being included following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood