England's Primary Batters Miss Day-Night Practice Game

The English key batsmen have opted to miss a day-night practice game in the capital, despite a devastating loss in the opening Ashes Test in Perth.

The tourists were beaten within 48 hours in the first Test, creating an 11-day break before the second day-night Test in Brisbane.

This gap presented the possibility for squad members to participate in the England Lions 48-hour day-night fixture against a Prime Minister's XI in the capital on Saturday and Sunday.

Instead, only pace bowlers Josh Tongue and another bowler, plus batsman Jacob Bethell – none of whom featured in the first Test – are set to go to join the Lions.

It is understood that none of the first-Test players requested to play in the capital fixture.

Ex- England Player Calls Decision "Bizarre"

Upon learning England were considering dispatching players to the capital for the development squad game, we assumed it would be those in need of match time.

The former English fast bowler and chief cricket commentator continued:

England must take charge of how they prepare and how they perform on the field. It's their job to giving it their best shot of winning the Ashes. The real test comes in the eating.

Missed Chance for Pink-Ball Experience

This match with the Prime Minister's XI is a tradition for touring sides to Australia.

England participated in the game in previous Ashes tours, but was left out from their plans on this occasion due to a potential tight turnaround to the next Test if the Perth Test gone all five days.

Travel from Western Australia to the capital takes almost four hours, with a additional two-hour flight between Canberra and Queensland.

Yet, given the opening match was completed in just two days – the first two-day Test in the series in over a century – the thought of dispatching at least the batsmen to Canberra seemed to make sense.

Batting Struggles in Perth

• The tourists dismissed in both innings in Perth inside 68 overs.
• It's been since the early 1900s has the team faced so few deliveries in a defeat in a Test match.
• Both captain Ben Stokes and ex-skipper failed to reach 10 runs in either innings.
• Zak Crawley was only the fourth England opener to record a duck in both innings in an Ashes Test.

England played only one warm-up match before the Perth match, so the game in the capital could have offered valuable batting practice.

Uncommon Pink-Ball Challenge Ahead

In addition, the Lions match provided experience with the pink ball, with the team set to face a unusual day-night Test.

England been defeated in 5 of their seven prior day-nighters, while the hosts have won 13 from fourteen.

With a key bowler, who claimed 10 wickets in the first Test, the home side boast the top pink-ball bowler in the world.

Of England's likely XI in the next Test, wicketkeeper one player and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have never played a first-class match using a day-night ball, and Brydon Carse has just a single appearance.

Team Management Position

Asked after the first Test whether England would alter preparations and send squad members to Canberra, the skipper was adamant in refusing.

I've been asked a lot, that was the method a long time ago. Our preparations thoroughly and train intensely whenever possible we get the opportunity.

Coach Brendon McCullum appeared to suggest flexibility when he said:

We need to determine what the pros and cons are. We haven't committed to any position at the moment, but we'll work it out in a couple of days.

McCullum added that he was "confident" a batter would be allowed to participate in Canberra should they wish.

Criticism from Former Captain

Commenting on Saturday, former captain Michael Vaughan stated it would be "amateurish" to decline the chance to participate in Canberra.

What harm is it playing 48 hours of cricket using the day-night ball under lights?

Vaughan added:

I can't be so traditional to propose that by getting match practice they could become slightly improved?

The approach I'd take would be, there's a day-night two-day game, you seize the opportunity, go and take it, play those two days and give yourself the best chance.

England will travel to Brisbane on Wednesday and do not plan to train until Monday. There is the chance of an additional practice on Sunday.