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The English side has left decisions open for the series opener by including spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five pace bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and is expected to participate against Australia in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists plus multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of bowlers they have used in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently WA wicket preparer McDonald stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the English will follow a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also observed a dryness to the surface, placing Bashir into consideration

Spinning Options

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have supported Shoaib, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to attain 50 wickets in international Tests

Yet he has been absent from a official match following securing the final wicket in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording match figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of him participating in an Ashes match without being contracted with a county

The agreement at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve 90 miles per hour - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at early morning GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, expert analysis and live action clips available

England Squad

Selected players for series opener: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Although a various successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that succeeded at home in the celebrated contest of that year contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's winning English side to Australia in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the English side that won in 1954-55 featured Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory - the English team are aiming to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the 16-man squad have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could help the visitors

"It could be an benefit," he told media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, extremely confident group

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The Australian training on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in following injuries to skipper Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood