The English team Name the off-spinner in Line-up for Ashes First Test

The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by including off-spinner Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision possibly involving off-spinner Bashir and seamer the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four specialists plus all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the quickest collection of bowlers they have deployed in an Ashes match in Australia

Recently WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also observed a arid quality to the surface, bringing the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in May he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a competitive game after claiming the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over India in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against England Lions, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from his bowling spell

It also raises the prospect of the spinner participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an English side including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - stays the probable result

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a number of England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the identical lineup

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

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons contained Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - the English team are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but the bowler states that could work in England's favour

"It could be an advantage," he told reporters

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to give a debut to batsman Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also coming in after fitness concerns to captain Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood