Ashes 2025-26: Michael Vaughan says it would be 'amateurish' if England do not play pink-ball warm-up

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed surprise that his country is not planning to play a pink-ball warm-up match before the second Ashes Test. According to Vaughan, it would be "amateurish" if England do not take advantage of the opportunity to get some practice in under the lights.

Vaughan believes that playing with the pink ball would give the players valuable experience and help them prepare for the day-night Tests. He pointed out that Australia have won 13 of their 14 day-night Tests, including all three against England, and said that this was no coincidence.

The decision to play a warm-up match in pink-ball conditions has been met with criticism from some quarters, with Stuart Law questioning whether it would be beneficial for the players given the vastly different conditions between Canberra and Brisbane. However, Vaughan disagrees, arguing that it is essential for the team to get used to playing under lights before the crucial Ashes series.

England captain Ben Stokes had initially said that his side would not alter their plans but left the door open for a change of heart when questioned later at his news conference. The team has been struggling with batting, and Vaughan's comments have raised questions about whether they are taking the right approach to prepare for the challenges of the Ashes series.

With 12 days to go before the second Test in Brisbane, England is facing an uphill task to get back on track after a disastrous first day at the Perth Test. The warm-up match against Australia's Prime Minister's XI could prove to be crucial in helping them find their footing and develop a plan to tackle the Australian bowlers effectively.

In conclusion, Vaughan's comments serve as a wake-up call for England management to rethink their strategy and prioritize practice with the pink ball before the second Ashes Test.
 
I don’t usually comment but I think it’s kinda weird that some people are criticizing England not playing a pink-ball warm-up match πŸ€”. I mean, Vaughan's just saying that it would be super beneficial for them to get used to playing under lights, and Australia has been absolutely killing it in day-night Tests πŸ’ͺ. It makes sense for England to take advantage of the opportunity to practice with the pink ball before the Ashes series starts. They're already struggling with batting, so this could be just what they need to shake things up πŸ”₯. Ben Stokes saying that they might change their plans is a good thing – it shows that he's open to listening and making adjustments 🀞.
 
πŸ€” I think it's crazy that they're not even gonna play a warm-up match in pink-ball conditions! I mean, Ben Stokes said they wouldn't change plans but now he's kinda leaving the door open? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ It would be soooo beneficial for them to get used to playing under lights before the Ashes series. They've been getting destroyed by Australia in day-night Tests and it's not like it's a coincidence! πŸ˜… The Aussie bowlers must be having some sort of magic trick going on! πŸ§™β€β™‚οΈ Vaughan's right, they need to practice with pink balls ASAP or else they'll be stuck with no idea how to deal with those conditions. Fingers crossed the warm-up match goes in their favor and they can get back on track! πŸ’ͺ
 
I'm shocked that they're not playing a warm-up match in pink-ball conditions πŸ€”... I mean, it's basic common sense, you know? You gotta get used to the lights, the spin, the pace... all that jazz πŸ’‘. Vaughan's right, it's amateurish if they don't take advantage of this opportunity πŸ™„. The Aussies are killing it under the lights and England needs to step up their game ⚽️.

I'm not surprised, though... I mean, we've seen them struggle with batting lately πŸ”ͺ... maybe they're trying to conserve energy or something? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. But seriously, it's a crucial part of preparing for the Ashes series and Vaughan's comments should be taken on board πŸ™Œ.

Stokes' comment about not altering their plans was pretty interesting, though πŸ€”... left the door open for a change of heart, you know? Maybe he's been listening to Vaughan behind closed doors πŸ˜‰. Either way, it's good to see some dissenting voices, even if they're not from within the team πŸ‘₯.

The warm-up match against PM XI could be make-or-break for England ⏰... if they don't get this right, it's gonna be a tough road ahead 🚨. Here's hoping they take Vaughan's advice to heart and put in some quality practice πŸ’ͺ!
 
I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised they're not playing that warm-up match in pink-ball conditions πŸ€”. Michael Vaughan makes some valid points about it being a great opportunity for the team to get some extra practice under lights. I mean, Australia's already on a hot streak with their day-night Tests, and it would be pretty amateurish of England not to try and learn from them ⚑️. Plus, with Ben Stokes saying they might change plans, it's clear that something needs to give 🀯. The team is struggling with batting, so if they can get some extra practice in, maybe they can figure out how to tackle those Aussie bowlers πŸ”΄πŸ’¨. It'd be a shame if England didn't take advantage of this chance to fine-tune their skills πŸ’ͺ.
 
I feel like some ppl are sleepin on the importance of adaptability in sports 🀯. Vaughan's point about practice under lights is valid, but it's also true that Australia's success in day-night Tests isn't just about luck, it's about preparation and strategy too πŸ”. We gotta remember that sports are as much about mental toughness as they are about technical skill πŸ’ͺ. England needs to find a balance between trying new things and trusting the process πŸ”„. Maybe this warm-up match is exactly what they need to shake off their struggles and get back on track 🌈. The bigger question is, though: can they execute? 😬
 
I'm not sure about this pink-ball warm-up match thing... I mean, I get where Michael Vaughan is coming from, but 12 days is still pretty tight to make a big change like that. It's just not cricket, you know? 😊 They should've thought of it before they started the series. And Stuart Law makes a valid point about the conditions in Canberra and Brisbane being different... Australia does have an edge playing at night, but I'm not convinced it's that drastic. England's batting is what's really the problem, imo. Maybe they should focus on fixing that rather than trying to adapt to pink balls at the last minute. πŸ€”
 
can't believe england isn't gonna play a pink-ball warm up match πŸ€” it would be a massive mistake if they don't take advantage of this opportunity to get some practice under lights... australia's got 13 wins out of 14 day-night tests and that's no fluke! πŸ‘Š stuart law is right though, it's a big change in conditions between canberra & brisbane πŸŒƒ maybe england should test the waters before the second ashes test 🀞
 
I gotta say, I'm loving this idea of playing a pink-ball warm-up match 🀩! It's all about getting those batsmen used to the flicker and bounce of the ball under lights, you know? I mean, Australia's got 13 wins out of 14 day-night Tests for a reason πŸ˜‚. England's batting woes are no joke, so if Vaughan thinks it'll give them an edge, I'm all for it! Plus, can't say I blame him for calling out the team's strategy - gotta make some changes if you wanna take on Australia and get back on top πŸ’ͺ. What do you think, mate?
 
I don't get why they're not doing a pink-ball warm-up match πŸ€”. It makes total sense to me that it would be super helpful for the team to get used to playing under lights, especially since Australia have had some success with day-night Tests and all that. I mean, Ben Stokes was like "we're good" but now he's open to changing his mind? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ England needs to figure out their batting game ASAP and this could be the key to getting back on track. Maybe it's time for them to take Vaughan's advice and get some practice in before the second Ashes Test 😊.
 
omg u wont believe what michael vaughan just said lol he thinks england shud def play a warm up match w/ pink ball b4 2nd ashes test!! like, why not rite?? he says it wd give them valuable exp and help dem prep 4 day-night tests πŸ€” australia's already won 13 of 14 day-night tests so its not like they're gonna be caught out lol. stuart law is all about it tho saying its benificial 4 players to get used 2 playing under lights b4 crucial matches πŸ™„ but michael thinks its a must πŸ˜… ben stokes said no way at first but then kinda left the door open so wut r u guys gonna think?
 
πŸ€” Come on, guys! A warm-up match in pink-ball conditions? That's not just a good idea, that's a necessity if you wanna stand a chance against the Aussies πŸ˜…. Vaughan's right, it'd be amateurish to ignore this opportunity. And let's be real, those Aussie day-night wins aren't just luck – they're a reflection of their team's preparation and experience under the lights πŸ’‘.

I mean, what's the point of having a top-notch squad if you're not gonna put them through their paces? The fact that Ben Stokes left the door open for a change of heart is a good thing, but it's about time England management took Vaughan's advice to heart ⏰. Get those batsmen practicing with the pink ball and see how they fare... it might just give them a fighting chance in this Ashes series 🀞
 
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