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England have left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five pace bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision probably coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of bowlers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently local groundsman the curator commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely England will adhere to a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

But the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

However he has missed a competitive game since securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This creates the scenario of him playing in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips available

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that won at home in the celebrated contest of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - 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 16-man squad have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

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

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

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Host Team Situation

The host team's net session on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also coming in after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood