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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by including slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently WA pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it looks possible England will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

Yet the English team have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Shoaib, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a first-class game after taking the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the scenario of him participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His deal at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

However, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve high speeds - remains the probable result

The opening match commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a various English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - England are looking to change an poor history - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to reporters

"There are a lot of players who have stated they have had some tough times in this country

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's net session on recently was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Brendan Doggett also being included due to injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood