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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by selecting slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision possibly between off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Recently WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to look for "pace and bounce" from the surface at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, bringing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has not played a competitive game following claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

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

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

Likely Lineup

However, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the probable result

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

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

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - England are hoping to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have played a international Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he explained to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood