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England have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Bashir in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Mark Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the final decision likely involving the young spinner and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the most rapid assembly of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in this country

Earlier this week Western Australia pitch curator McDonald said to look for "pace and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable England will follow a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also spotted a dryness to the surface, putting Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in recent months he became the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

Yet he has been absent from a first-class game after claiming the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, recording match figures of 2 for 151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of Bashir playing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a county

The agreement at Somerset ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Likely Lineup

Nevertheless, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The opening match starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Although a several successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that won at in England in the famous series of that year included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that triumphed in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent years - the visitors are looking to overturn an poor history - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since 2011

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

"This could represent an benefit," he told reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic squad

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to create history"

Opposition News

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following health issues to skipper Cummins and teammate Hazlewood