England to Rely on Single England Lions Match for Ashes Warm-Up
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – england will head into the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia with minimal match practice, confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The team will play only one warm-up fixture – a three-day match against England Lions,the national progress side - before the first Test.
This unconventional readiness strategy, mirroring a pattern established under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, prioritizes intensity over volume. All five of their previous tours have featured either one or no warm-up matches, consistently leading to first-Test victories and a mixed overall record of two series wins, two defeats, and a draw in New Zealand. The decision raises questions about readiness given England’s historical struggles in Australia.
ECB performance director Ed Barney believes the Lions match will provide crucial preparation. ”There is nothing the lads will want more than to raise their game as far as it has ever been, put batters under pressure, put bowlers under pressure,” Barney said. “I have no shadow of a doubt that the three-day fixture will be a quality exposure that will continue to aid England in their preparation.”
Historically, England’s approach to Ashes warm-ups has varied, often with unfavorable results. Ahead of the 2021-22 series, two friendlies against the Lions preceded a 4-0 series defeat. A similar pattern unfolded before the 2017-18 tour, also lost 4-0, when no warm-up match against an Australian side was played.The 2013-14 tour saw four friendlies against Australian opposition, including one mid-series, culminating in a 5-0 loss.
Though, a more robust warm-up schedule didn’t guarantee success in the past. In 2010-11,England played two three-day and one four-day warm-up match before securing a memorable 3-1 series victory.This latest decision continues a trend of prioritizing competitive preparation over extensive acclimatization,a strategy that will be closely scrutinized when the ashes begin.
