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The tourists have kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team together with five seamers

Wood has been passed fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Western Australia on the weekend, with the final decision likely involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler Brydon Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an all-pace attack - four dedicated bowlers plus all-rounder Ben Stokes - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in Australia

Earlier this week local groundsman the curator commented to expect "speed and bounce" from the surface at the stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

However the English team have also noted a arid quality to the surface, putting Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have favored Bashir, 22 years old, as their main slow bowler for since last year and in recent months he achieved the most youthful English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in international Tests

But he has not played a first-class game since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the third Test at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, returning combined figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the possibility of the spinner playing in an Ashes Test without being attached to a domestic team

His contract at his county concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the expected conclusion

The initial game starts at early morning GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Duckett, Zak Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several successful Ashes campaigns at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as multiple quick bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that won at domestically in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

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

Current Situation

In this instance - one of the most eagerly anticipated England-Australia contests in recent memory - the visitors are hoping to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since that year

Only five members of the extended squad have participated in a international Test in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an positive," he told the press

"There are a many cricketers who have mentioned they have had some tough times down under

"In our case, we are a very relaxed, very positive group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian net session on this week was briefly delayed by the possibility of bad weather

Australia are likely to hand a first cap to batsman Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also coming in following fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and teammate Josh Hazlewood