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The English side has kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler the young spinner in a squad of twelve alongside five pace bowlers

Mark Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the ultimate choice probably involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Pitch Conditions

Should England choose an all-pace attack - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of bowlers they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Recently Western Australia pitch curator McDonald stated to anticipate "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the English will follow a established strategy of an exclusively pace attack

However the visitors have also spotted a arid quality to the pitch, putting Bashir into consideration

Slow Bowling Factors

In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the most successful bowler with 29

England have supported Bashir, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for over twelve months and in spring he achieved the least experienced English bowler to reach fifty wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game since taking the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been out with a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against the development squad, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

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

His contract at the domestic team concluded at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

Still, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are able to achieve 90mph - stays the most likely outcome

The initial game begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with live text coverage, expert analysis and real-time features available

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several English Ashes victories at domestically and internationally have been constructed around fast bowling, they have never fielded as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that triumphed at in England in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in that period included Brian Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to change an poor history - they have failed to win a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

Just five players of the sixteen-player group have participated in a Test in Australia, but Atkinson comments that could work in England's favour

"It could be an positive," he explained to the press

"There have been a lot of players who have said they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a very relaxed, extremely confident group

"No bad memories

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a huge opportunity to do something special"

Opposition News

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

The hosts are expected to give a debut to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped fast bowler Brendan Doggett also joining after injuries to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood