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The English side has maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the final decision probably involving the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder the captain - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Recently local wicket preparer the curator commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

However the English team have also spotted a arid quality to the pitch, putting the spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

England have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a official match since securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of him participating in an Ashes Test without being attached to a county

His deal at his county ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team including Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the same team

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

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - England are hoping to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have experienced a international Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could help the visitors

"This might be an positive," he explained to the press

"There are a numerous athletes who have said they have had some tough times in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic team

"No negative experiences

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a massive chance to do something special"

Opposition News

The Australian net session on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are likely to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining due to health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood