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The tourists have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by selecting slow bowler Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad alongside five seamers

Wood has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Western Australia on the weekend, with the last selection possibly coming down to off-spinner Bashir and fast bowler Carse

Ground Situation

If the visitors select an fast bowling unit - four main pacers plus multi-skilled player Stokes - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have deployed in an Ashes Test in the host nation

On Wednesday WA wicket preparer Isaac McDonald stated to anticipate "pace and bounce" from the wicket at Perth Stadium, and it looks possible the tourists will follow a established strategy of an fast bowling focus

But the tourists have also spotted a lack of moisture to the pitch, putting Bashir into consideration

Spin Considerations

In the short history of Perth Stadium - five prior matches have been hosted here - Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29

England have supported Bashir, 22, as their main slow bowler for over twelve months and in recent months he became the most youthful English bowler to attain half-century of wickets in Tests

However he has been absent from a competitive game after securing the final wicket in a thrilling win over India in the final Test at the famous ground in July

Current Concerns

The spinner has been out with a broken finger and struggled in the single preparation match against the Lions, recording overall statistics of 2-151 from his bowling spell

It also raises the scenario of the spinner participating in an Ashes Test without being contracted with a county

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

Expected Selection

Still, an visiting team featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Atkinson, leader Ben Stokes and Carse - each of whom are likely to hit 90 miles per hour - remains the probable result

The initial game commences at 02:20 GMT on Friday, with instant commentary, specialist radio coverage and real-time features accessible

Playing Group

Team lineup for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes (captain), Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Carse, Wood, Archer, Bashir

Team Background

Although a various England Ashes triumphs at home and abroad have been founded on quick bowling, they have not previously selected as numerous fast bowlers in the same team

The lineup that succeeded at in England in the celebrated contest of 2005 contained Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff

The captain's successful touring team to Australia in those years had Bob Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the England team that succeeded in those seasons featured Statham and Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in modern times - England are hoping to reverse an poor history - they have not won a Test match in Australia since over a decade ago

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

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

"There are a lot of players who have said they have had difficult experiences here in Australia

"In our case, we are a extremely composed, very positive group

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a great possibility to do something special"

Australian Preparations

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

The home side are expected to give a debut to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Brendan Doggett also being included following fitness concerns to captain Cummins and colleague Hazlewood