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The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely involving spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald commented to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will stick to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have backed Shoaib, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2-151 from his bowling spell

This presents the scenario of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

His contract at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

However, an visiting team including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - stays the probable result

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights provided

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a various successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that triumphed in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he mentioned to the press

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also coming in following injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood