Cricket News | England plan extra training before next Ashes Test

England have scheduled additional training sessions in Brisbane

This comes after their heavy defeat in the opening Ashes Test.

Author | Peter Jones

The Gabba

The tourists were beaten by Australia inside two days in Perth and have announced five days of preparation ahead of the day-night Test at the Gabba, starting next Thursday.

England’s decision not to send any players from the first Test to feature in an England Lions match in Canberra this weekend has drawn criticism.

Instead, Ben Stokes’ side will undertake one of their longest preparation periods since he and coach Brendon McCullum took charge more than three years ago. Typically, England train for two or three days before a Test, with longer periods only seen on pre-tour camps such as those before trips to India and Pakistan.

READ MORE | Ashes news and stories

The original Brisbane schedule involved three days of training at the Gabba from Monday. This has now been extended with an additional session at the ground on Sunday and further time at nearby Allan Border Field on Saturday. Two of the sessions, on Monday and Wednesday, will be conducted under floodlights.

Questions remain over England's tour planning

England flew to Brisbane from Perth on Wednesday and have a period of rest before training resumes on Saturday.

The debate over England’s choice to skip the Lions’ two-day pink-ball fixture against the Prime Minister’s XI centres on the 11-day gap created by their poor performance in the first Test and the day-night conditions of the second.

View from the crowd at the first test

England were bowled out twice in 67.3 overs in Perth, the fewest overs they have faced in a losing effort since 1904. Their record in day-night Tests is poor, with only two wins in seven matches, including three defeats in Australia.

Australia, by contrast, have won 13 of their 14 pink-ball matches. Two of England’s likely side in Brisbane, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, have yet to play a first-class match with a pink ball.