Ashes 2025-26: Vaughan urges England to train with pink-ball cricket or risk amateurish label
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says skipping a pink-ball warm-up before the Brisbane Test would be amateurish, urging England to practice under lights.
It would be "amateurish" if England skip a pink-ball warm-up match before the second Ashes Test, says former captain Michael Vaughan.
England were crushed in a dramatic two-day defeat in the first Test and now have 12 days to prepare for the second Test in Brisbane, a day-night match played with the pink ball. England plan to field only their Lions development side in a pink-ball tune-up against a Prime Minister's XI on 29 November.
England captain Ben Stokes said after the defeat that their plans would not change, though he left the door open to a late decision when speaking at his press conference.
"All we are trying to do is give ourselves the best chance of how we believe we can win an Ashes series," Stokes said. "We’ll let the dust settle and in the next few days decide whether a couple of guys should play in that game or whether we keep the squad tight to protect morale."
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England’s preparation ahead of the Perth Test was questioned, with only one warm-up against the Lions. On past tours there were multiple warm-ups against Australian state sides, but England have tended to keep preparation in-house lately, often using a similar schedule to past series they won.
The two-day PM’s XI match in Canberra would give players competitive cricket under lights with the pink ball, but pink-ball cricket remains a topic of debate and some batsmen can struggle to pick the ball under lights.
Australia have won 13 of 14 day-night Tests, including all three against England so far.
"Whether they like it or not, all these conversations are going to come back to England," Vaughan said. "It's amateurish if England don't go out and practice between now and then. What harm is there in playing two days of pink-ball cricket under lights to give themselves the best chance?"
'Shellshocked' Stokes backs batters
Stokes admitted he felt "shellshocked" after their defeat. He praised Travis Head, who struck 123 from 83 balls to power Australia to victory, and defended England's batting on day two as the visitors collapsed from 65-1 to 88-6.
"The guys who had success were the ones who pressed the bowlers, moved the ball, and kept the scoreboard moving," Stokes said. "If Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne can't lay bat on ball on day one, you know the pitch is tricky for batting."
What comes next
England will assess whether adding a pink-ball warm-up is the right move and how best to bolster morale and performance ahead of the Brisbane Test.
Key insight: England should practice pink-ball cricket ahead of the Brisbane Test to avoid appearing amateurish. BBC Sport
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