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England have left decisions open for the series opener by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably coming down to the young spinner and seamer Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in this country

Recently Western Australia groundsman McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have backed the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a first-class game after taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been suffering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the possibility of him playing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a county

His contract at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights provided

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that won at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in 1954-55 featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are looking to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have participated in a international Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he explained to reporters

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

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

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The home side are likely to provide an opportunity to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Hazlewood