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The English side has maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

On Wednesday WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the surface at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, putting the spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a official match since claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been recovering from a finger injury and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, recording combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner competing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at Somerset ended at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the probable result

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that won at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to change an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the extended squad have played a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he told media outlets

"There are a many cricketers who have stated they have had challenging periods in this country

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood