Vaughan: Skipping Pink-Ball Warm-Up Would Undermine England’s Preparedness

Former Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan suggests that England should utilize the additional time before the second Test against Australia to practice with a pink ball under floodlights.

Following their two-day defeat in the first Test on Saturday, which gave Australia an early lead in the five-match series, England has until December 4 to regroup before the second Test begins in Brisbane.

In light of England’s poor performance in Perth, there’s concern, as Australia has secured victories in 13 out of their 14 day-night Tests, including all three encounters against England.

Vaughan recommends that once the initial shock has subsided, England should adjust their schedule to ensure players remain in peak form.

England faces a match against a Prime Minister’s XI on November 29, yet it is the England Lions development side, not the main touring team, slated to provide the opposition.

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“It would be amateurish for England to skip practice between now and then,” Vaughan commented on Test Match Special.

“What harm is there in playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under lights? I can’t be so old school as to suggest that playing more cricket won’t improve their skills.

“My approach would be to seize the opportunity, play those two days with the pink ball, and give yourself the best shot at improvement.”

In the first Test, England moved from a position of control at lunch on the second day to collapsing at 164 all out in their second innings, leading to Australia’s eight-wicket triumph driven by a remarkable century from Travis Head.

Captain Ben Stokes conceded that the team was stunned, but former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed confidence in their ability to rebound in Brisbane.

“They need to retreat into their space and dig deep. This English team, under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, has a history of bouncing back; they managed to draw the last Ashes series in England after trailing 2-0,” Hussain told Sky Sports.

“This team has a lot of character; they need to prove it now. However, playing in Australia is a different challenge. This defeat is tough to overcome, speaking from personal experience. It’s a steep climb for England, but they have the character to do it, with a determined captain leading them.”

Published on Nov 22, 2025