Win Projections to be updated soon
Perth, 12 November 2025:
England have defended their limited preparation for the upcoming Ashes series, saying the reduced warm-up schedule reflects the demands of modern cricket.
The tourists will face England Lions in a three-day game at Lilac Hill starting Thursday — their only match practice before the first Test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium next Friday.
Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said Tuesday that the shortened preparation is “the way of the modern game,” citing the busy international calendar and the reduced window for first-class warm-ups that once defined Ashes tours.
“With the volume of cricket that’s played now, you don’t have time for two or three first-class games like we used to,” Trescothick said. “You roll with a prep game or use whatever facilities you have available. That’s how things are done these days.”
Since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over as head coach and captain, England have largely opted for training camps and intra-squad matches over extended warm-up fixtures. The approach has worked so far — England have won the opening Test of their last five overseas tours, including in India, Pakistan and New Zealand.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan questioned the choice of Lilac Hill — a club ground with low bounce — as the only tune-up ahead of a Test expected to be played on a fast, bouncy Optus Stadium pitch.
Trescothick dismissed the criticism, saying England were satisfied with their buildup. “We’ve had good facilities, nets in the middle, and now this match. We’ll have three days of practice at Optus to get used to conditions,” he said. “We’re very happy at the moment.”
Opening batter Ben Duckett, who arrived in Perth last week, said facing England’s quicks in the nets was “pretty good prep.”
“We play a lot of cricket and we’re certainly not short of game time,” Duckett told the Willow Talk podcast. “If we’re facing Jofra [Archer] and Woody [Mark Wood] every day, I think that’s good preparation.”
Not all agree. Former allrounder Ian Botham said England’s light schedule “borders on arrogance,” contrasting it with Australia’s buildup, 14 of their 15 Test squad members are currently playing in the Sheffield Shield.
