TanzaniaEngland Add Warm-Up Match
England will play a 50-over warm-up match against Western Australia in Perth before their white-ball tour of Australia. The match is scheduled for November 7, six days before the series opener at the Optus Stadium.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
England have added a 50-over warm-up match against Western Australia in Perth ahead of their white-ball tour of Australia. The match will be played on November 7, six days before the series opener at the Optus Stadium.
England will tour Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is starting November 13. They are expected to field a full-strength team for the three ODIs, but may rest some Test stars for the five T20Is.
The England and Wales Cricket Board chair, Richard Thompson, said the team has learned from the mistakes of their Ashes defeat. Brendon McCullum's white-ball side will play the warm-up match at the Waca in Perth.
The Test team was heavily criticised for only having one in-house warm-up before last winter's dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat. McCullum admitted during the Ashes that mistakes may have been made with preparation.
The ECB and Cricket Australia have agreed a reciprocal arrangement that would mean touring teams are provided with better preparation before Ashes series. Thompson said this arrangement is codified and in an agreement.
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.
The addition to England's 50-over schedule is partly a result of the agreement between the ECB and Cricket Australia. McCullum spoke of a wish to arrange such fixtures to get players up to speed before next year's 50-over World Cup.
Key facts
- England will play a 50-over warm-up match against Western Australia in Perth on November 7.
- The match is scheduled six days before the series opener at the Optus Stadium.
- England will tour Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is starting November 13.
- The ECB and Cricket Australia have agreed a reciprocal arrangement for better preparation before Ashes series.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The England and Wales Cricket Board has taken steps to address the criticism of their preparation for the Ashes. The team's schedule for the white-ball tour of Australia includes a warm-up match. The outcome of the series will depend on various factors, including the team's performance and the opposition.
Positive
The addition of a warm-up match to England's schedule is a positive step towards preparing the team for the white-ball tour of Australia. The reciprocal arrangement between the ECB and Cricket Australia will provide better preparation for touring teams. This could lead to more competitive and exciting cricket.
Negative
The criticism of England's preparation for the Ashes was justified, given their poor performance. The team's decision to rest some Test stars for the T20Is may affect their chances of winning the series. The reciprocal arrangement between the ECB and Cricket Australia may not be enough to address the issues with preparation.
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