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England have left decisions open for the series opener by including slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five fast bowlers

Mark Wood is declared fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection likely involving the young spinner and pace bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would arguably be the quickest collection of seamers they have fielded in an Ashes Test in Australia

Recently local pitch curator McDonald commented to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the wicket, bringing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

The team have backed Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain 50 wickets in Tests

But he has not played a competitive game following claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Current Concerns

Bashir has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the single preparation match against England Lions, returning combined figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the prospect of Bashir competing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

His contract at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that won at in England in the famous series of that year featured Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that succeeded in those seasons included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - the English team are hoping to overturn an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since that year

Just five players of the 16-man squad have experienced a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he explained to media outlets

"We've seen a lot of players who have said they have had some tough times down under

"For us, we are a quite calm, very positive team

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a great possibility to create history"

Host Team Situation

Australia's training on this week was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood