England’s Australia Warm-Up Shows Ashes Lessons Applied

England and Wales Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson says the white-ball team has “learned” from Ashes preparation mistakes by scheduling a 50-over warm-up before their Australian tour.

Brendon McCullum’s white-ball side will face a Western Australia XI at the Waca in Perth on 7 November, six days before the one-day international series begins.

The Test team faced heavy criticism for relying on a single in-house warm-up before last winter’s dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat.

“There is a lot that was learned,” Thompson said.

“You have to remember these decisions are taken so far ahead.”

“The reality is in those decisions, mistakes were made and we’ve corrected that now.”

McCullum, sacked as Test coach but still in charge of white-ball sides, admitted during the Ashes that preparation mistakes may have been made.

Their warm-up was played against the Lions at club ground Lilac Hill, where conditions were vastly different from the first-Test venue, Optus Stadium.

England lost inside two days there, conceding the series at the earliest opportunity.

At the time, the ECB said it had been told the Waca was unavailable.

England are also due to play warm-ups before their Test tours of South Africa and Bangladesh this winter, and before the one-off 150th anniversary Test against Australia in Melbourne in March. Those fixtures were in place before McCullum was replaced by Stephen Fleming as Test coach this summer.

Since the Ashes, the ECB and Cricket Australia have also agreed a reciprocal arrangement ensuring touring teams receive better preparation before Ashes series.

“These things are codified and in an agreement, so we’re not relying on goodwill,” said Thompson, speaking at an event at Lord’s to launch a new initiative to boost participation in state schools.

“It can’t be a situation where a board chair or CEO move on and the goodwill falls away.”

“It’s important the Ashes has the best prep for both teams, the best wickets and the best facilities.”

“That’s something you will see going forward for both teams.”

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