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The English side has maintained flexibility for the series opener by selecting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a twelve-player team combined with five seamers

Wood is declared fit and appears likely to feature versus the Aussies in Perth Stadium on Friday, with the last selection probably involving off-spinner Bashir and pace bowler the seamer

Pitch Conditions

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player the captain - it would possibly be the quickest collection of pacemen they have deployed in an Test against Australia in this country

Recently WA groundsman Isaac McDonald stated to expect "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the stadium, and it looks possible England will stick to a traditional approach of an pace-only strategy

However the tourists have also spotted a dryness to the pitch, bringing Bashir into contention

Spin Considerations

During the brief existence of this venue - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner the experienced spinner is the top wicket-taker with twenty-nine

The team have supported Shoaib, 22 years old, as their first-choice spinner for more than a year and in May he became the least experienced English bowler to achieve 50 wickets in Tests

Yet he has missed a official match after taking the last dismissal in a thrilling win over India in the third match at the famous ground in July

Recent Issues

The spinner has been suffering from a broken finger and had challenges in England's only warm-up match against the Lions, recording match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from 24 overs

This presents the prospect of him playing in an Test against Australia without being attached to a first-class side

The agreement at Somerset ended at the finish of the English season

Probable Team

However, an visiting team containing Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Stokes and Carse - all of whom are likely to hit high speeds - continues to be the expected conclusion

The initial game begins at early morning GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, Test Match Special commentary and live action clips accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Jofra Archer, Bashir

Team Background

While a several English Ashes victories at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously used as numerous fast bowlers in the equivalent side

The team that triumphed at home in the memorable competition of that year included Harmison, Jones and Flintoff

Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Bob Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that triumphed in those seasons included Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

On this occasion - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to reverse an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Only five members of the extended squad have played a Test match in Australia, but Atkinson states that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an advantage," he told media outlets

"There have been a lot of players who have stated they have had some tough times down under

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

"No bad memories

"It's very exciting

"Everyone considers it a massive chance to do something special"

Australian Preparations

The host team's training on recently was momentarily paused by the threat of lightning

The home side are expected to hand a first cap to batsman Jack Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included due to health issues to skipper Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Hazlewood