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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

On Wednesday WA pitch curator Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

But the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the wicket, bringing Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

The team have backed Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

Yet he has missed a first-class game following claiming the final wicket in a dramatic victory over India in the third match at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

The spinner has been suffering from a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against the development squad, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of the spinner playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at Somerset concluded at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

However, an English side including Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The first Test begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that succeeded at home in the celebrated contest of that year included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent years - England are hoping to change an poor history - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"It could be an advantage," he explained to reporters

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have said they have had some tough times here in Australia

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The Australian practice session on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The home side are likely to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also being included due to health issues to captain Cummins and colleague Hazlewood