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The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming slow bowler Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and is expected to participate versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the last selection likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus all-rounder Stokes - it would possibly be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have used in an Ashes Test in Australia

Earlier this week WA pitch curator McDonald commented to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the English will adhere to a traditional approach of an exclusively pace attack

But the English team have also noted a dryness to the surface, putting the spinner into contention

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of the ground - five earlier Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have backed the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for since last year and in spring he achieved the most youthful English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in international Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game after claiming the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording combined figures of 2-151 from twenty-four overs

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

His contract at his county expired at the conclusion of the domestic season

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are capable of reaching high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Playing Group

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

Team Background

While a several England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

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

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in that period included Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated England-Australia contests in modern times - England are looking to change an difficult past - they have been unable to secure a Test match in the host country since 2011

Only five members of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"It could be an advantage," he explained to media outlets

"There have been a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

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

Host Team Situation

The host team's training on recently was temporarily interrupted by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are probably going to give a debut to batsman Jack Weatherald, with yet to debut pace bowler Doggett also joining after injuries to captain Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood