Trescothick doubles down on England’s limited preparation for the Ashes, says it is ‘the way of the modern game’.
Before their warm-up match against the Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth on Thursday, England has justified their scant preparation for the Ashes. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick referred to the three-day event as “the way of the modern game” and said it is England’s only match practice before the first Test at Optus Stadium on Friday.
Warm-up matches between touring sides and either home or inviting teams have traditionally kicked off Ashes tours, although in recent series, these matches have been drastically cut as boards try to simplify itineraries.
Since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over as head coach and captain, England has mostly avoided warm-up games in favour of training camps and intra-squad games, but they have usually gotten off to a solid start in series. In their last five international tours, including those to India, Pakistan, and New Zealand last year, they have won every first Test.
“It’s the way that the series are generally done – for us and for other opposition teams – around the world nowadays,” Trescothick told reporters in Perth on Tuesday. “With the volume of cricket that’s played [elsewhere], you don’t have the time for preparations like potentially playing two or three first-class games, which has happened in the past.
“I think you generally roll with a prep game, or some facilities – whatever you have available – and you go from there. Of course, most of the guys have been playing in New Zealand for us. Some of the guys have come out from England, but it’s the way of the modern game nowadays.”