England Set for Single Ashes Warm-Up Match Against England Lions Ahead of Australia Tour

Cricket Australia confirmed that England will play only one warm-up game ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series Down Under. The three-day red-ball match against the England Lions will take place at Lilac Hill Cricket Ground in Perth from November 13 to 15, providing a key preparation stage ahead of the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium on November 21.

This single practice fixture continues the evolving tradition seen in recent years, where touring sides forgo multiple warm-ups against state teams. England follows India’s approach from last year, though India’s intra-squad match was played behind closed doors, unlike the public-access Lilac Hill venue.

While Lilac Hill remains open to fans due to its parkland setting on the Swan River, the WACA ground isn’t available for matches on November 13-14 because of a Sheffield Shield game, though both teams are expected to use it for training sessions leading up to the Test.

In addition to this warm-up, England is expected to play another two-day match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra between the first and second Tests, potentially serving as their pink-ball practice before the day-night match at the Gabba.

Concurrently, the England Lions will play a total of three matches on this Australian tour. After facing the main England team at Lilac Hill, the Lions will take on a Cricket Australia XI featuring emerging players in a four-day game at the same venue. The Lions will later join the main squad in Brisbane for a four-day clash against Australia A at Allan Border Field during the second Ashes Test week.

Peter Roach, Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations, emphasized the importance of this reciprocal A series, stating it offers both countries valuable experience and will complement what promises to be a fiercely competitive Ashes battle.

This marks the Lions’ second tour of Australia this year, following their earlier red-ball series in January and February. Players like Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue, and Sam Cook, who have recently played Tests for England, featured in that earlier tour.

England Lions Tour Fixtures:

Date	Match	Venue
Nov 13 – 15	England vs England Lions	Lilac Hill (Perth)
Nov 21 – 24	Cricket Australia XI vs England Lions	Lilac Hill (Perth)
Dec 5 – 8	Australia A vs England Lions	Allan Border Field (Brisbane)

                                               

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