England lost the inaugural Ashes Test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium in two days. On Day 2, the hosts prevailed by eight wickets, chasing down a 205-run total in 28.2 overs. While the defeat will sting, former captain Michael Vaughan has urged Ben Stokes and his teammates to make the most of the additional time before the second Test, which begins on December 4.
The second Test will be played with pink balls at Brisbane’s renowned Gabba stadium. Vaughan proposed that the Three Lions play a pink-ball warm-up game before the match to prepare themselves for the challenge ahead.
“It’s amateurish if England don’t go out and practise between now and then,” he said while speaking to Test Match Special, questioning why the team would risk entering a crucial day-night Test underprepared.
Vaughan stressed the importance of playing the pink-ball warm-up clash, explaining that it is only going to benefit the England players.
“What harm is it playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under lights? I can’t be so old school to suggest that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better,” the cricketer-turned-commentator said.
Australia have a phenomenal record in pink-ball Tests, having won 13 out of the 14 matches they have played. This includes three victories against England. According to Vaughan, preparing with a warm-up pink-ball fixture could give players a good chance to prepare for the challenges they may face at The Gabba.
“My method would be, you’ve got a pink-ball two-day game. You go and grab it, go and take it, play those two days and give yourself the best chance,” Vaughan added.
England’s famed batting came a cropper in Perth, as they were bowled out twice in just 67.3 overs. The challenge is expected to intensify in the second Test as the bowlers generally dominate proceedings in pink-ball games.
England’s only fixture before Brisbane is a match against a Prime Minister’s XI on November 29, and even that will not feature the members of the Test squad. The England Lions development side will take the field instead, leaving Stokes’ main group with no competitive pink-ball practice.
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