The visitors Select the off-spinner in Team for The Ashes series First Test

England have maintained flexibility for the first Ashes Test by naming slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five pace bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice probably between the young spinner and fast bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers combined with all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in Australia

Recently Western Australia groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will adhere to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also spotted a arid quality to the wicket, putting Bashir into contention

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The team have supported Bashir, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in spring he became the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

Yet he has missed a first-class game following claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over India in the third Test at the famous ground in recently

Recent Issues

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This creates the scenario of him participating in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a county

His contract at his county concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the probable result

The first Test commences at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights provided

Playing Group

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

Even though a number of English Ashes victories at home and abroad 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 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in those seasons included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - the visitors are hoping to reverse an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This might be an positive," he told media outlets

"There are a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences down under

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic squad

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's training on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Brendan Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood