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The English side has left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by including spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad together with five pace bowlers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the final decision probably involving spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Wicket Factors

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the quickest collection of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in this country

Earlier this week local groundsman Isaac McDonald said to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it seems likely the tourists will stick to a long-standing plan of an pace-only strategy

Yet the visitors have also observed a arid quality to the pitch, placing the off-spinner into the running

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five previous Tests have been played here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

England have supported the young spinner, twenty-two, as their primary spin option for over twelve months and in recent months he was recognized as the youngest England bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a competitive game since claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third Test at Lord's in summer

Current Concerns

He has been recovering from a broken finger and found it difficult in the single preparation match against the Lions, returning overall statistics of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

This presents the prospect of the spinner competing in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a domestic team

His deal at the domestic team concluded at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Still, an visiting team including Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, captain Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit high speeds - stays the expected conclusion

The first Test starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and in-play highlights available

Playing Group

England squad for initial Ashes match: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Past Experience

While a several successful Ashes campaigns at domestically and internationally have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

The side that triumphed at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in that era had Willis, Lever and Snow, and the English side that succeeded in 1954-55 included Brian Statham and Tyson

Modern Context

This time around - one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series in recent memory - the visitors are looking to change an awful record - they have not won a Test match in the host country since over a decade ago

Merely five individuals of the sixteen-player group have experienced a international Test in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could help the visitors

"This could represent an advantage," he mentioned to media outlets

"We've seen a numerous athletes who have said they have had difficult experiences down under

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

"No scarring

"It's exhilarating

"The entire team views it as a huge opportunity to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

The Australian practice session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the threat of lightning

The hosts are likely to provide an opportunity to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also coming in after injuries to skipper Cummins and teammate Hazlewood