The visitors Select the off-spinner in Squad for The Ashes series First Test

The English side has kept their options open for the series opener by naming spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a squad of twelve alongside five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth on the coming Friday, with the last selection probably between spinner Bashir and fast bowler the seamer

Wicket Factors

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

Recently Western Australia wicket preparer Isaac McDonald said to expect "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an exclusively pace attack

But the tourists have also noted a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of Perth Stadium - five earlier Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in recent months he achieved the youngest England bowler to attain 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has not played a competitive game since securing the concluding scalp in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been out with a hand problem and found it difficult in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

It also raises the possibility of him playing in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

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

Probable Team

Still, an English side featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - remains the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 2:20 AM GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, specialist radio coverage and live action clips available

Team Selection

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have never fielded as multiple quick bowlers in the same team

The team that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in that era had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in 1954-55 contained Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to overturn an difficult past - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since that year

Just five players of the extended squad have participated in a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"It could be an advantage," he mentioned to the press

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods down under

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

"No negative experiences

"It's very exciting

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

Opposition News

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

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with yet to debut seamer Doggett also coming in due to fitness concerns to captain Cummins and colleague Hazlewood