England Select Bashir in Line-up for The Ashes series First Test

The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Bashir in a squad of twelve together with five seamers

Mark Wood has recovered and seems set to play against Australia in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the ultimate choice likely involving the young spinner and seamer the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the quickest collection of pacemen they have used in an Ashes match in Australia

Recently WA wicket preparer McDonald said to expect "speed and bounce" from the pitch at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the English will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

Yet the tourists have also observed a lack of moisture to the wicket, placing Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

Throughout the limited timeframe of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Lyon is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have supported the young spinner, 22 years old, as their primary spin option for since last year and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Test matches

Yet he has not played a first-class game after securing the concluding scalp in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

He has been suffering from a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting match figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the scenario of the spinner playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

The agreement at his county ended at the conclusion of the domestic season

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the most likely outcome

The first Test commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and real-time features available

Playing Group

England squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

While a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been built on pace, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the identical lineup

The team that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of that year featured Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to the host nation in those years had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Test series in modern times - the English team are hoping to change an awful record - they have failed to win a Test in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he mentioned to the press

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had difficult experiences down under

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, highly optimistic team

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The Australian net session on Wednesday was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also coming in following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood