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The tourists have maintained flexibility for the initial Ashes match by naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve combined with five seamers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and seems set to play facing the hosts in Perth on the weekend, with the last selection possibly coming down to the young spinner and pace bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

Should England choose an fast bowling unit - four specialists along with multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the quickest collection of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes match in the host nation

Recently Western Australia groundsman the curator stated to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the venue, and it appears probable England will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also noted a dryness to the wicket, bringing Bashir into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

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

England have favored the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in recent months he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has not played a official match since securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been suffering from a finger injury and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

This presents the possibility of him playing in an Ashes match without being affiliated with a first-class side

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

Expected Selection

However, an England team including Mark Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90 miles per hour - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a various England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

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

The captain's winning English side to Australia in that era had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that won in that period contained Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to reverse an poor history - they have not won a Test in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have played a Test match in the host nation, but the bowler says that could help the visitors

"It could be an advantage," he told reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a very relaxed, very positive squad

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on recently was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with new fast bowler Brendan Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood