The English main batters have opted to avoid a day-night tour match in Canberra, even after a comprehensive loss in the opening Ashes Test in Western Australia.
England suffered defeat within two days in the first Test, leaving an extended break ahead of the second day-night Test in Queensland.
The break opened up the possibility for squad members to join the England Lions two-day pink-ball match against a invitational side in the capital this weekend.
Instead, only pace bowlers one bowler and another bowler, plus batsman a young player – none of whom featured in the first Test – are set to go and link up with the Lions.
Reports indicate that none of the first-Test players requested to participate in the capital match.
Former England Star Describes Decision "Strange"
Upon learning England were considering dispatching players to Canberra for the development squad match, it was expected they would send players requiring practice.
The former English fast bowler and chief cricket commentator continued:
The team are responsible for how they prepare and their performances on the field. It's their job to giving it their best shot of winning the Ashes. The real test comes with the results.
Missed Chance for Day-Night Practice
This match with the invitational side is a tradition for touring sides to Australia.
The tourists have played in the fixture in previous Ashes tours, but was left out from their plans this time because of a possible tight turnaround to Brisbane had the first match had lasted all five days.
The flight from Western Australia to the capital takes almost 240 minutes, and a further two-hour flight between Canberra to Brisbane.
Yet, given the first Test was completed in just two days – the first 48-hour Test in the series since 1921 – the idea of dispatching some of the batters to Canberra seemed to make sense.
Performance Struggles in First Test
- The tourists dismissed twice in Perth in under 67.3 overs.
- It's been since 1904 has the team survived such a low number of balls in a defeat in a Test match.
- Both captain Ben Stokes and former captain Joe Root failed to reach 10 runs in both innings.
- Zak Crawley became one of just four England opening batsman to record a pair in an Ashes match.
England had just a single practice game prior to the first Test, so the fixture in the capital would have provided much-needed batting practice.
Uncommon Pink-Ball Test Ahead
Furthermore, the development game provided practice with the pink ball, with England set to face a unusual pink-ball Test.
The tourists have lost five of their seven prior day-nighters, while Australia triumphed in 13 from fourteen.
In pace bowler Mitchell Starc, who claimed a ten-wicket haul in Perth, Australia boast the top pink-ball bowler in the game.
Of England's probable line-up in the next Test, gloveman Jamie Smith and pace bowler another are yet to experience a red-ball game with a day-night ball, and a third has just a single appearance.
Team Management Stance
Asked after the first Test if the team would alter preparations and send players to Canberra, the skipper was adamant in refusing.
This question has come up a lot, that's how it was done a long time ago. Our preparations thoroughly and train incredibly hard whenever possible to improve our game.
Head coach the coach seemed to suggest flexibility when he said:
We've just got to determine the advantages and disadvantages. We're not married to a fixed plan at the moment, but we'll work it out in a couple of days.
McCullum added that he was "sure" a batter would be allowed to participate in the capital should they wish.
Concerns from Former Captain
Commenting recently, former captain Michael Vaughan said it would be "amateurish" to pass up the opportunity to play in the capital.
How could it hurt playing 48 hours of the game using the pink ball in evening conditions?
He added:
It's hard to believe so traditional to suggest that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better?
My method is, you've got a pink-ball two-day game, you seize the opportunity, go and take it, play those two days and give yourself the optimal preparation.
The squad will travel to Queensland on Wednesday and are not scheduled to practice before the start of the week. Exists the possibility of an extra practice at the weekend.
