England’s upcoming tour of Australia will now include a 50‑over warm‑up match against a Western Australia XI at the historic WACA ground, a move prompted by the criticism they faced for not playing any local sides before the disastrous Ashes series last winter. The decision to add this fixture aims to give the English side a taste of Australian conditions ahead of their one‑day international (ODI) series, which begins on 13 November at Perth's Optus Stadium.
During the Ashes, England’s only preparation for the Test format was an intra‑squad game at the modest Lilac Hill club ground. That match offered none of the extra bounce, speed or seam movement that characterises Perth’s WACA pitch, and the lack of authentic opposition was cited as a factor in England’s 4‑1 defeat, which saw the series end in just two days. White‑ball specialist Brendon McCullum, who oversaw the Test side during that humbling campaign, had already expressed his desire to arrange warm‑up games for the next tour. The Western Australia XI clash on 7 November therefore satisfies that wish and gives the touring party a chance to acclimatise to the local climate, pitch behaviour and crowd atmosphere.
The ODI itinerary continues after the warm‑up with three matches against the Australian national team: the first at Optus Stadium in Perth on 13 November, followed by fixtures in Adelaide on 15 November and Hobart on 18 November. Following the ODIs, England will contest a five‑match Twenty‑20 International (T20I) series spread across Melbourne, Carrara (Gold Coast), Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra, providing a full spectrum of white‑ball cricket in the southern hemisphere.
Squad selections for the Australian leg have not yet been announced, but the England management hope that all‑rounder Jacob Bethell will be fit to join the party. Bethell missed the latter part of the English domestic season after undergoing knee surgery, and his recovery will be closely monitored as the team looks to bolster its batting depth and fielding options.
Before heading to Australia, England will compete in an ODI tri‑series in Pakistan, which also features Sri Lanka, starting on 20 October. That tournament will serve as an additional preparation platform, allowing the side to fine‑tune its strategies and player combinations in sub‑continental conditions before transitioning to the faster, bouncier tracks of Australia.
One notable selection for the tour is Glamorgan leg‑spinner Mason Crane, who replaces the dropped Rehan Ahmed. Crane’s inclusion marks his first potential international appearance since the 2017‑18 Ashes, where he endured a tough debut, returning figures of 1‑193 from 48 overs in a red‑ball match in Sydney. Since then, Crane has enjoyed a standout 2026 domestic season: he featured in all 14 County Championship matches, claimed 34 wickets, and added two centuries with the bat. In the Vitality Blast, he also took 15 wickets, underscoring his development as a genuine all‑rounder.
Former England captain Michael Atherton praised Crane’s recall on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, describing it as "a great story". He highlighted Crane’s resilience after a difficult Test introduction, noting that the leg‑spinner showed character and that his figures did not fully reflect his performance. Atherton added that Crane’s maturity at 29, combined with regular county cricket, has sharpened both his bowling and batting.
He contrasted Crane with Ahmed, suggesting that Ahmed is primarily a batsman who bowls leg‑spin, whereas Crane is fundamentally a bowler who can contribute with the bat. Atherton believes England have made the right call in favouring Crane for the leg‑spin role, especially as they consider their spin options for the upcoming winter Test series in Bangladesh. The inclusion of a warm‑up match in Western Australia also offers logistical benefits.
The WACA’s reputation for a fast, bouncy surface will help England’s seamers and fast bowlers gauge the extra pace they will encounter in Perth, while the local XI will provide a competitive batting line‑up to test England’s top order. Moreover, the match will give the coaching staff an opportunity to experiment with team combinations, assess player fitness, and fine‑tune field placements before the high‑stakes ODIs.
Overall, the added fixture represents a proactive response to the criticism levied after the Ashes debacle. By exposing the squad to authentic Australian conditions and offering a meaningful contest against a regional side, England hope to avoid the pitfalls of insufficient preparation that contributed to their previous loss.
The combination of the Pakistan tri‑series, the Western Australia warm‑up, and the subsequent ODIs and T20Is should provide a comprehensive build‑up, allowing the team to adjust tactics, build confidence, and ultimately perform more competitively on Australian soil.