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England have kept their options open for the first Ashes Test by including slow bowler the young spinner in a twelve-player team combined with five pace bowlers

The fast bowler has recovered and appears likely to feature against Australia in Perth Stadium on the weekend, with the last selection likely coming down to off-spinner Bashir and seamer Carse

Pitch Conditions

If England opt for an all-pace attack - four main pacers along with all-rounder the captain - it would potentially be the fastest group of seamers they have used in an Test against Australia in the host nation

Recently local wicket preparer McDonald stated to expect "pace and bounce" from the surface at the venue, and it seems likely England will adhere to a established strategy of an pace-only strategy

However the English team have also spotted a lack of moisture to the surface, placing the spinner into the running

Spinning Options

Throughout the limited timeframe of the ground - five previous Tests have been hosted here - Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon is the top wicket-taker with 29 dismissals

The English management have backed the young spinner, 22, as their first-choice spinner for since last year and in May he was recognized as the most youthful English bowler to reach 50 wickets in Test matches

However he has been absent from a competitive game after claiming the final wicket in a exciting triumph over the Indian team in the third match at the famous ground in summer

Recent Challenges

He has been out with a hand problem and had challenges in the sole practice game against the Lions, returning match figures of two wickets for 151 runs from twenty-four overs

It also raises the prospect of the spinner participating in an Test against Australia without being affiliated with a county

The agreement at the domestic team expired at the end of the home summer

Expected Selection

Nevertheless, an visiting team featuring Mark Wood, Archer, Atkinson, skipper Ben Stokes and Carse - every one of them are able to achieve 90mph - continues to be the most likely outcome

The initial game commences at 2:20 AM GMT on the weekend, with instant commentary, expert analysis and in-play highlights accessible

Team Selection

Selected players for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Crawley, Ollie Pope, Root, Brook, Ben Stokes (leader), Jamie Smith (gloveman), Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Archer, Bashir

Historical Context

Even though a several England Ashes triumphs at in England and overseas have been constructed around fast bowling, they have not previously selected as many express pace bowlers in the equivalent side

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

The captain's triumphant visitors to the host nation in 1970-71 had Willis, Lever and John Snow, and the visiting team that succeeded in those seasons featured Brian Statham and Tyson

Current Situation

This time around - among the most highly anticipated Test series in recent memory - England are looking to change an poor history - they have not won a five-day game in Australia since 2011

Merely five individuals of the 16-man squad have participated in a Test in Australia, but Atkinson says that could work in England's favour

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

"We've seen a lot of players who have mentioned they have had challenging periods here in Australia

"In our case, we are a quite calm, extremely confident squad

"No negative experiences

"It's exhilarating

"We all see it as a massive chance to achieve something remarkable"

Host Team Situation

Australia's net session on this week was temporarily interrupted by the risk of storms

The home side are probably going to hand a first cap to opener Weatherald, with new pace bowler Doggett also being included after fitness concerns to skipper Pat Cummins and colleague Josh Hazlewood