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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the final decision likely coming down to spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four specialists combined with multi-skilled player the captain - it would arguably be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Ashes match in this country

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at the stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will follow a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

However the visitors have also noted a dryness to the pitch, bringing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

In the short history of this venue - five earlier Tests have been staged here - Australian off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have supported Bashir, twenty-two, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

But he has missed a official match after claiming the concluding scalp in a dramatic victory over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Issues

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of 2-151 from 24 overs

It also raises the scenario of him playing in an Ashes match without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

However, an English side featuring Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The first Test begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips provided

Playing Group

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

Team Background

Although a number of English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the famous series of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and John Snow, and the England team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years - England are hoping to change an awful record - they have been unable to secure a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he told the press

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have stated they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, very positive team

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on Wednesday was momentarily paused by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are expected to hand a first cap to opener Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining due to fitness concerns to captain Pat Cummins and teammate Hazlewood