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The tourists have left decisions open for the initial Ashes match by naming slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five fast bowlers

Wood has recovered and seems set to play facing the hosts in Western Australia on the coming Friday, with the last selection possibly involving the young spinner and seamer Brydon Carse

Wicket Factors

If England opt for an pace-only bowling lineup - four dedicated bowlers along with all-rounder the captain - it would arguably be the most rapid assembly of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

Recently WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to look for "fast and bouncy conditions" from the wicket at the venue, and it seems likely England will stick to a traditional approach of an fast bowling focus

Yet the tourists have also noted a arid quality to the surface, placing the spinner into the running

Slow Bowling Factors

Throughout the limited timeframe of this venue - five prior matches have been played here - Australian spin bowler the experienced spinner is the most successful bowler with twenty-nine

The English management have favored the young spinner, 22, as their primary spin option for more than a year and in May he was recognized as the least experienced English bowler to reach half-century of wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game since taking the last dismissal in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at Lord's in July

Recent Challenges

Bashir has been suffering from a broken finger and found it difficult in England's only warm-up match against England Lions, posting match figures of 2 for 151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of Bashir participating in an Ashes Test without being affiliated with a domestic team

His deal at Somerset ended at the finish of the English season

Likely Lineup

However, an visiting team including Wood, Archer, Gus Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90mph - remains the probable result

The initial game commences at 02:20 GMT on the weekend, with real-time updates, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

England Squad

England squad for series opener: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Joe Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Historical Context

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been built on pace, they have not previously used as many express pace bowlers in the identical lineup

The lineup that succeeded at home in the famous series of 2005 Ashes contained Harmison, Jones and Andrew Flintoff

Raymond Illingworth's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Peter Lever and Snow, and the visiting team that won in those seasons contained Statham and Tyson

Present Circumstances

In this instance - among the most highly anticipated Ashes series in modern times - the visitors are looking to change an difficult past - they have failed to win a five-day game in the host country since 2011

Just five players of the extended squad have experienced a Test match in the host nation, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

"This could represent an benefit," he explained to reporters

"There are a many cricketers who have said they have had challenging periods down under

"In our case, we are a quite calm, highly optimistic group

"No bad memories

"It's thrilling

"Everyone considers it a huge opportunity to create history"

Australian Preparations

Australia's practice session on Wednesday was briefly delayed by the risk of storms

Australia are probably going to provide an opportunity to opener Jack Weatherald, with uncapped seamer Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood