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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the last selection possibly between the young spinner and seamer Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week local wicket preparer the curator stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

But the visitors have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, putting Bashir into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has missed a competitive game since securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been out with a finger injury and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, posting combined figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

This creates the possibility of Bashir participating in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an English side containing Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights provided

England Squad

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a number of England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The side that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in recent years - the English team are looking to change an awful record - they have been unable to secure a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an benefit," he told media outlets

"There have been a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

The host team's practice session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following injuries to skipper Cummins and colleague Hazlewood