EXCLUSIVE: Ian Chappell urges England not to forget key ingredient as spin bowling plans remain clouded

Can you win an Ashes series without a true front-line spinner?

That is the question England selectors must ask themselves this summer as two former Australian captains raise concerns with the touring squad's bowling attack.

The first Test will kick off on Friday and the overwhelming expectation is that England will trot out a four-pronged fast-bowling cartel at Perth Stadium.

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Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will act as the spearheads with Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse the other specialist seamers in the XI, while skipper Ben Stokes is expected to play a major role with the ball throughout the series against Australia.

The other seamer who could play a role - whether in Perth or later in the series - is Josh Tongue, who is yet to cement himself as a permanent member of the England line-up.

"I don't think England's worry is in their batting," legendary former Australia skipper Mark Taylor said on Wide World of Sports' Outside The Rope ahead of the series opener.

"The interesting thing for England will be that bowling attack. Can they keep Australia under pressure? Can they continue the narrative around Australia's top-order?

"If they can get early wickets and get [Steve] Smith in early, then they are in the game.

"The problem they've got is they don't have a lot of experience with their bowling. Jofra Archer has been around for six years and played 15 Tests, but he's dangerous. The other bowlers they have look to be fine bowlers to me, but they haven't bowled much here.

"There's enough runs in this side. It will be up to whether those bowlers can do what England did 15 years ago and get into Australia's middle-order, keep them under wraps."

The queries surrounding the Aussie top-order have been prominent from many smart judges ahead of the first Test, especially with debutant Jake Weatherald and the ageing Usman Khawaja set to face the new-ball in tricky conditions in Perth and Brisbane.

But perhaps the more glaring issue centres around England's lack of spin bowling plans.

The visitors have named two spinners in the wider squad - Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks - but neither man is expected to feature early on, unless something changes.

Bashir is the more likely selection but his record across 19 appearances to date doesn't make for the prettiest reading, having taken 68 wickets at an average of 39.

However, according to Ian Chappell, there is merit to picking the youngster.

"There's definitely a place for him - certainly in Adelaide and Sydney, surely they'd be playing him," the former Aussie captain said.

"He can bowl and he's got a pretty good attack, so if Stokes is fit to bowl in all five Tests, it's gonna be hard work for Australia because Stokes is a bloody good bowler.

"They've got a decent attack - if those guys are bowling well and the batsmen are under the hammer, you bring Bashir on … Bashir is good enough to get them out.

"As long as he can maintain a bit of control, he does vary a bit. Stokes uses him quite well, so I've got a bit of time for Bashir."

Taylor said the need to change things up later in the series will be vital for England.

"You've also got to give yourself some variety," he said.

"Perth and the Gabba, with the pink ball, you don't necessarily need a slow bowler.

"But in Adelaide - especially a day game this year - and Sydney, I can't see how you can play without having a spinner."

Jacks is the potential X-factor given he would give England an extra batter, but has only been afforded two Test match opportunities thus far and hasn't set the world on fire.

Australia on the other hand will head into the Ashes with one of the best spinners of the modern era at their disposal in Nathan Lyon, who has 562 Test wickets to his name.

If something was to go amiss with Lyon, the back-up option would be Todd Murphy, who has already taken 22 poles at 28.13 across his dozen Tests.

England's bowling attack career records

Mark Wood - 37 Tests, 119 wickets @ 30.42

Jofra Archer - 15 Tests, 51 wickets @ 30.62

Gus Atkinson - 13 Tests, 63 wickets @ 22.01

Brydon Carse - 9 Tests, 36 wickets @ 30.11

Josh Tongue - 6 Tests, 31 wickets @ 30

Ben Stokes - 115 Tests, 230 wickets @ 31.64

Shoaib Bashir - 19 Tests, 68 wickets @ 39

Will Jacks - 2 Tests, 6 wickets @ 38.66