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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team alongside five fast bowlers

The fast bowler is declared fit and seems set to play against Australia in Perth on Friday, with the final decision probably coming down to spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently Western Australia pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it appears probable England will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the visitors have also noted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The English management have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to attain fifty wickets in Tests

But he has missed a official match after securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting overall statistics of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the prospect of him participating in an Ashes match without being attached to a first-class side

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

Expected Selection

Still, an English side containing Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

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

Historical Context

Although a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The side that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that won in that period included Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have played a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could help the visitors

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

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had difficult experiences in this country

"Regarding our team, we are a quite calm, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to create history"

Australian Preparations

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

The hosts are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new fast bowler Doggett also being included following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood