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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision probably coming down to the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus all-rounder Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday local wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable the English will stick to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The English management have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game since claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of him participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset expired at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an England team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and real-time features provided

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a number of successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that triumphed 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 those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in that period contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - England are aiming to reverse an awful record - they have not won a five-day game in the host country since that year

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

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

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

"For us, we are a very relaxed, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also being included after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood