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The tourists have left decisions open for the first Ashes Test by including off-spinner the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and appears likely to feature facing the hosts in Perth Stadium on the coming Friday, with the last selection likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an fast bowling unit - four dedicated bowlers along with multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Ashes match in Australia

On Wednesday local pitch curator Isaac McDonald said to anticipate "speed and bounce" from the pitch at the stadium, and it seems likely England will stick to a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

But the English team have also spotted a arid quality to the surface, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five prior matches have been staged here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29 dismissals

England have backed the young spinner, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in Test matches

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

Recent Issues

Bashir has been suffering from a finger injury and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

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

Likely Lineup

Still, an English side featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the expected conclusion

The initial game begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features provided

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Although a several England Ashes triumphs at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The lineup that won at home in the memorable competition of 2005 featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's winning English side to Australia in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that won in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - England are looking to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an positive," he told reporters

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"Regarding our team, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

The host team's net session on this week was momentarily paused by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Brendan Doggett also coming in after injuries to captain Pat Cummins and colleague Hazlewood