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England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by selecting off-spinner the young spinner in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently WA groundsman McDonald commented to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, placing the off-spinner into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The English management have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in May he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a competitive game after claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over India in the third match at Lord's in recently

Current Concerns

The spinner has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

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

The agreement at Somerset expired at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - continues to be the expected conclusion

The opening match commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 included Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in 1954-55 included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

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

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had some tough times down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on this week was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Hazlewood