England's cricketers are set for an intense period of additional practice after a crushing eight-wicket defeat by Australia in the first Ashes Test. Head coach Brendon McCullum has scheduled extra net sessions, breaking from the team's usual routine, in a direct response to the loss.
Change of Plan: Nets Over Match Practice
Instead of sending first-team players to a two-day England Lions match in Canberra this weekend, the squad will undergo specialised training. The first session is confirmed for Saturday morning at Allan Border Field, with subsequent practices moving to The Gabba in Brisbane from Sunday onwards.
This decision marks a significant shift in England's preparation strategy, which typically involves training for just three days before a Test match. The move is designed to address the batting failures seen in the first Test and to acclimatise the players to the specific challenges of the next venue.
Pink Ball and Brisbane Conditions in Focus
Two of the scheduled sessions—on Monday and Wednesday—will be held after dark. This is a tactical move to allow the players to gain crucial experience with the pink Kookaburra ball under floodlights, a key factor in the day-night Test format.
Beyond the pink ball, the extended camp in Brisbane will help the team adjust to the city's high humidity. The area has recently experienced several electrical storms, and conditioning for these specific weather conditions is now a priority for the English camp.
Australian Challenge Set to Intensify
As England looks to regroup, Australia's threat may be about to grow. There is a growing expectation that captain Pat Cummins will be added to the Australian squad when it is officially named on Friday.
Cummins has not played since July due to a lower back issue, but he has been training with the team and was recently seen bowling with a pink ball in Sydney. Leading the series 1-0 and with a formidable record at The Gabba—where England hasn't won since the 1986-87 tour—Australia may still choose to hold Cummins back until the third Test in Adelaide. Usman Khawaja also remains a fitness doubt after suffering back spasms during the match in Perth.
The second Ashes Test, a day-night encounter, is scheduled to begin on 4 December at The Gabba.
