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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by naming off-spinner the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five pace bowlers

Wood is declared fit and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection probably between spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week WA wicket preparer the curator stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

However the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the wicket, putting the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed Bashir, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in Tests

But he has been absent from a first-class game following taking the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

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

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

Expected Selection

Still, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, expert analysis and live action clips available

Playing Group

Team lineup for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have never fielded as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that succeeded at domestically in the celebrated contest of 2005 Ashes included Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

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

Modern Context

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - England are hoping to overturn an difficult past - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had some tough times down under

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic group

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Host Team Situation

The host team's practice session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with uncapped pace bowler Doggett also joining due to health issues to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood