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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision possibly coming down to spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists along with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in the host nation

On Wednesday local wicket preparer the curator stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the tourists have also observed a dryness to the pitch, bringing the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have supported Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game following securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, returning combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the prospect of the spinner playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an England team containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at in England in the famous series of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons contained Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent years - England are looking to change an poor history - they have not won a Test match in the host country since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he told the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"For us, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident team

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a massive chance to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's net session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining due to health issues to captain Cummins and teammate Hazlewood