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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the English will adhere to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

But the visitors have also observed a dryness to the wicket, placing Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have backed the young spinner, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a official match since securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, returning match figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of Bashir competing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a county

The agreement at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Team Selection

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Past Experience

While a various English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 featured Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are hoping to change an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson states that could benefit the English team

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

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

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

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Hazlewood