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England have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Western Australia on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely involving spinner Bashir and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

Recently Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the English team have also noted a dryness to the wicket, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has been absent from a official match after securing the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

It also raises the possibility of the spinner playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

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

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several English Ashes victories at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The side that won at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to change an awful record - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

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

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had some tough times in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The Australian net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in after health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood