England to schedule white‑ball warm‑up in Australia after criticism over pre‑Ashes preparation

England’s cricket team will face a Western Australia XI in a 50‑over warm‑up match at the historic WACA ground ahead of their One‑Day International (ODI) series against the hosts in November. The decision comes after a wave of criticism that the side entered the Ashes series last winter without any meaningful exposure to Australian conditions, a factor many believe contributed to their humiliating 4‑1 defeat.

During the Ashes, England’s only preparation for the Test format was an intra‑squad game played at Lilac Hill, a modest club venue that offered none of the steep bounce and extra‑pace that characterise Perth’s WACA pitch. The lack of genuine opposition meant the players were essentially blind‑folded when they arrived in Western Australia, and the result was a rapid two‑day loss in the opening Test. Observers and former players alike pointed out that the team’s failure to acclimatise to the local surface was a glaring oversight.

White‑ball specialist Brendon McCullum, who oversaw the side during the Ashes debacle, had publicly stated last month that he intended to organise proper warm‑up fixtures this time around. That promise has now materialised: the England squad will take on a Western Australia XI on 7 November, giving the players a chance to adjust to the pace and movement of Australian pitches under match conditions. The first official ODI against Australia is slated for 13 November at Perth’s Optus Stadium, followed by further matches in Adelaide on 15 November and Hobart on 18 November. After the three‑game ODI series, England will embark on a five‑match T20 International tour, with contests scheduled across Melbourne, the Gold Coast’s Carrara stadium, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.

The itinerary ensures that the English side will experience a variety of venues and surfaces before the longer format tests later in the season. Squad selections for the tour have yet to be announced, but there is optimism that all‑rounder Jacob Bethell will recover from a knee injury and subsequent surgery that kept him out of the latter part of the English domestic summer. Bethell’s inclusion would add depth to both the batting line‑up and the pace attack. In addition to the Australian leg of the tour, England will compete in an ODI tri‑series in Pakistan starting 20 October, featuring Sri Lanka as the third participant.

This series will serve as an additional platform for players to fine‑tune their skills in sub‑continental conditions before heading to the southern hemisphere. A notable development in the England camp is the recall of Glamorgan leg‑spinner Mason Crane, who replaces the dropped Rehan Ahmed. Crane last appeared on the international stage during the 2017‑18 Ashes, where he endured a challenging debut, returning figures of 1‑193 from 48 overs in a red‑ball match in Sydney.

Despite that rough start, Crane has enjoyed a standout domestic season in 2026. He featured in all 14 County Championship games, claiming 34 wickets and impressively scoring two centuries, demonstrating his growing competence as a genuine all‑rounder.

In the Vitality Blast T20 competition, he also tallied 15 wickets, underscoring his versatility across formats. Former England captain Michael Atherton praised Crane’s resurgence on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, describing his call‑up as "a great story." Atherton highlighted Crane’s resilience, noting that despite the harrowing test debut, the young spinner showed considerable character and did not bowl as poorly as the raw numbers suggested. He emphasized that Crane’s maturity at 29, coupled with regular county cricket exposure, has sharpened both his spin craft and his batting, making him a more balanced option for the national side. Atherton also weighed in on the decision to drop Ahmed, suggesting that Ahmed’s primary skill set lies in batting, with leg‑spin being a secondary attribute, whereas Crane is fundamentally a bowler who can bat.

He argued that England needed a specialist leg‑spinner to complement their spin options and that Crane fits that role more convincingly. While acknowledging that Ahmed still has a future, Atherton stressed that England must clarify his role if they intend to retain him. Looking ahead, Crane’s inclusion could extend beyond the Australian tour. England has a Test series scheduled in Bangladesh in February, and his ability to extract turn on slower sub‑continental pitches could prove valuable.

The spin department, traditionally a weaker link for England in overseas conditions, may finally have a reliable leg‑spinner who can also contribute useful runs lower down the order. Overall, the warm‑up match against Western Australia represents a strategic shift for England: rather than relying solely on intra‑squad games, the team is now seeking authentic opposition to better prepare for the challenges of playing abroad. By scheduling a series of ODIs, T20Is, and a tri‑series in Pakistan, the England management hopes to give their players a comprehensive exposure to diverse pitches, climates, and competitive pressures.

This proactive approach aims to avoid a repeat of the Ashes fiasco and to build a more adaptable, confident side capable of competing on the world stage across all formats.