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The English side has kept their options open for the initial Ashes match by including off-spinner the young spinner in a 12-man squad combined with five fast bowlers

The fast bowler has been passed fit and seems set to play versus the Aussies in Western Australia on Friday, with the final decision likely between the young spinner and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have fielded in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Earlier this week WA pitch curator McDonald said to look for "speed and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible England will adhere to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the visitors have also noted a arid quality to the pitch, placing Bashir into the running

Spinning Options

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australian off-spinner the experienced spinner is the leading wicket-taker with twenty-nine

England have supported Shoaib, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Test matches

But he has been absent from a first-class game since taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over the Indian team in the final Test at Lord's in summer

Recent Challenges

The spinner has been recovering from a hand problem and struggled in England's only warm-up match against the development squad, recording match figures of 2 for 151 from 24 overs

This presents the possibility of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being attached to a domestic team

His deal at Somerset expired at the end of the home summer

Probable Team

Nevertheless, an England team featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes and Carse - all of whom are able to achieve high speeds - continues to be the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at early morning GMT on the weekend, with live text coverage, Test Match Special commentary and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

Team lineup for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (skipper), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Even though a various successful Ashes campaigns at home and abroad have been built on pace, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the same team

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of 2005 Ashes contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons included Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are aiming to overturn an awful record - they have not won a Test in Australia since that year

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a Test match in Australia, but the bowler comments that could benefit the English team

"This could represent an benefit," he mentioned to the press

"There have been a numerous athletes who have stated they have had some tough times here in Australia

"For us, we are a quite calm, very positive group

"No scarring

"It's thrilling

"We all see it as a great possibility to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian training on recently was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

The hosts are probably going to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new seamer Doggett also joining following fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood