England’s Ashes warmup to see them play only one game, which will be a practice game against England Lions.
England’s Ashes warmup will see them play just a one game, against the England Lions.
The match will be a part of a three-match England Lions trip that will take place in Australia during the Ashes series, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
Prior to the first Ashes Test beginning at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21, England will play a three-day red-ball match at Lilac Hill, the home of Midland Guildford Cricket Club in the eastern suburbs of Perth, from November 13–15. Throughout the 1990s, Lilac Hill was the customary first tour destination for all overseas teams travelling to Australia. The tour would begin with a 50-over festival match played by the visiting Test squad.
Since touring teams no longer even play against Australian state teams, that custom has long been abandoned. England has chosen to prepare for the tour in a manner similar to that of India in Australia last year, with the exception that India’s lone intra-squad game was held at the WACA field behind closed doors, with no access granted to the media or outsiders.
Since Lilac Hill is open parkland next to the Swan River, it is impossible to keep people off of it. Due to a Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland on November 11–14, the WACA ground will not be available on November 13–14. However, in the days preceding the first test, both Australia and England will probably have access to the WACA ground for center-wicket training and net sessions.
It is believed that England may play a second two-day match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra between the first and second Test at the Gabba, which will be a pink-ball day-night Test, even though they will only play one practice match prior to the first Test in Perth. Although the Prime Minister’s starting lineup has not yet been announced, it may serve as England’s pink-ball warm-up before the Gabba.