The English team Name the off-spinner in Team for The Ashes series Initial Match

The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming spin bowler Bashir in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth on the weekend, with the ultimate choice possibly between off-spinner Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four specialists plus all-rounder Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of pacemen they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer the curator commented to expect "pace and bounce" from the wicket at the stadium, and it appears probable the tourists will follow a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also spotted a dryness to the surface, placing the off-spinner into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

The team have favored Bashir, twenty-two, as their main slow bowler for more than a year and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to achieve half-century of wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a official match following claiming the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Issues

He has been out with a finger injury and struggled in the sole practice game against the development squad, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of him competing in an Test against Australia without being contracted with a domestic team

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

Likely Lineup

Still, an England team including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The opening match begins at early morning GMT on Friday, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (skipper), Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Team Background

Even though a number of successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously used as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that triumphed at home in the celebrated contest of that year featured Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the England team that succeeded in 1954-55 included Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - potentially the most exciting Ashes series in recent years - England are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test in Australia since over a decade ago

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

"It could be an advantage," he explained to reporters

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had challenging periods down under

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

"No scarring

"It's very exciting

"The entire team views it as a great possibility to do something special"

Opposition News

Australia's training on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

Australia are expected to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Doggett also coming in following fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood