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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and is expected to participate facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in Australia

Recently WA groundsman McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the English will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

Yet the English team have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a first-class game following taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, posting match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of him competing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at his county concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the probable result

The opening match starts at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips available

England Squad

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a several English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that won at domestically in the famous series of 2005 Ashes featured Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting England-Australia contests in modern times - the English team are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have failed to win a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

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

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The Australian training on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also being included after health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood