The English team Include Bashir in Squad for The Ashes series Initial Match

The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of seamers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also observed a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

However he has missed a official match since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a county

His contract at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team containing Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 included Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in that period featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the visitors are hoping to change an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Only five members of the sixteen-player group have participated in a international Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

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

"We've seen a lot of players who have stated they have had challenging periods in this country

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The hosts are likely to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood