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The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by selecting spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in this country

Earlier this week local wicket preparer the curator commented to look for "speed and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it appears probable England will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

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

Slow Bowling Factors

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

England have favored the young spinner, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a first-class game since securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This creates the possibility of the spinner participating in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a domestic team

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

Expected Selection

However, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit 90mph - continues to be the expected conclusion

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

Team Selection

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes featured Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - England are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have not won a Test in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the 16-man squad have played a Test match in Australia, but the bowler states that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an benefit," he told the press

"There are a many cricketers who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

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

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"The entire team views it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on recently was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The hosts are expected to provide an opportunity to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood