The visitors Name the off-spinner in Squad for The Ashes series Opener

The tourists have left decisions open for the series opener by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

The fast bowler is declared fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably between off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of pacemen they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week Western Australia groundsman McDonald said to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the surface at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the English will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the English team have also noted a dryness to the surface, placing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

England have supported Bashir, 22, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in May he achieved the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, returning match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

It also raises the possibility of Bashir playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset ended at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

However, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Team Selection

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

Past Experience

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of that year contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in that period featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an positive," he mentioned to media outlets

"We've seen a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic team

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The host team's net session on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following health issues to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood