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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by naming spin bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in this country

On Wednesday Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, placing the spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach 50 wickets in international Tests

But he has missed a first-class game following securing the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This creates the possibility of Bashir playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an England team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - continues to be the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and real-time features available

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to overturn an awful record - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since that year

Only five members of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

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

Australian Preparations

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

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also coming in due to health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood