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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including spin bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth on the coming Friday, with the ultimate choice likely between off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the stadium, and it looks possible the English will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also observed a dryness to the surface, bringing Bashir into the running

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in spring he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to achieve fifty wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a first-class game since claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over India in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

He has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the single preparation match against England Lions, posting overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the scenario of him competing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a county

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

Expected Selection

Still, an English side including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - remains the most likely outcome

The opening match commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a number of England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The side that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in 1954-55 featured Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent years - the visitors are aiming to reverse an awful record - they have not won a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a Test in Australia, but the bowler says that could benefit the English team

"This might be an benefit," he told the press

"There have been a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

The Australian training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also joining due to injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood