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ben stokes Criticism of England’s “has-beens” rejected ash Preparation, this week’s in-house warm-up will be a completely “balls to the wall” affair.
three-day struggle against England The Lions XI starting at Perth’s Lilac Hill Outgrounds on Thursday represents the only tour game before the first Test on November 21, a decision which has generated considerable heat.
Former players from both sides of the divide have had their say, with Lord Botham and michael vaughn Among those who question light run-in from an English perspective.
Former Australia opening batsman Simon Katich joined the chorus on Wednesday, telling The West Australian newspaper the program was “trouble-raising”.
But England captain Stokes gave short shrift to the idea in his first public appearance of the tour.
“The next three days are tough for everyone. There is no relaxation. It will be a good run out for everyone,” he said.
“We have not only been preparing for this tour for the last three weeks, we have put a lot of thought and process into it over the last few years.
“There are a lot of factors that play into why we are not able to prepare the way we have in the past. The landscape of cricket has changed and it affects the preparation and how you are able to do it. But we are very confident and very comfortable with our preparation because we leave no stone unturned.
“You used to be able to come on tour for two months, a month and a half, before the first game started. Now the schedule is so packed with cricket that it’s impossible to do it like it used to.”
Stokes explained that the current run of Sheffield Shield matches meant that key domestic players would not be available as opponents, leading England to conclude that an international match would be their best option.
They plan to play an authentic 11 versus 11 competition, meaning five of the Test squad will be reallocated to Andrew Flintoff’s Lions team.
While there may be some indications about the preferred line-up for the series opener across the city at the Optus Stadium, there may also be an element of mixing and matching of teamsheets.
Stokes was cautious on the pecking order, but it appeared there was a close race between Ollie Pope and the rising star. jacob bethel Because the number three position will go to the wire.
“Poppy has done a great job for us at number three. He’s a man in possession,” Stokes offered.
“But there are still nine days left and there are a lot of things that can go right and a lot of things that can go wrong, so we will have the team out a day or two as we normally would. It will be a good opportunity to give everyone on our team some time in between.”
The game will be Stokes’ first competitive action since fast bowler Mark Wood’s return to action after nearly nine months out after injuring his shoulder muscle and undergoing knee surgery while playing against India in July.
Stokes was welcomed to Australia and headlined on the front page as “Captain Cocky’s complainer”, with the local media continuing to criticize him and his team-mates in the following days.
Smiling at the treatment, he said: “I think the build-up is always hyped up and it always gets quite spicy as you get closer to the opening game.
“I think we’ve let outsiders lead the war of words. It’s been fun to see what’s been coming out lately.”