Michael Vaughan has warned that it would be “amateurish” if England do not play a practice match before their second Ashes Test against Australia.
The Three Lions were humbled in Perth in the first Test, beaten by eight wickets in just two days as Travis Head hit 123 off 83 as the hosts dominated the England attack Down Under.
The tourists’ batsmen collapsed, as the Australian pace bowlers feasted on the mistakes, and there is much work to be done by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum ahead of the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Vaughan, the former England captain, argued that it would be silly for the tourists not to play another match in the 12 days before they face Australia again.
That Test will be played in the day-night format with a pink ball, and there is a warm-up game against the Prime Minister’s XI on November 29.
However, it is believed that none of the Test side will partake, instead leaving it to Freddie Flintoff’s Lions team.
"It's amateurish if England don't go out and practice between now and then,” Vaughan said.
"What harm is it playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under lights?
"I can't be so old school to suggest that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better?
"My method would be, you've got a pink-ball two-day game, you go and grab it, go and take it, play those two days and give yourself the best chance."
Vaughan also questioned the all-out ‘Bazball’ mentality of the England batsmen against the frightening Australian pace attack, led superbly by Mitchell Starc.
“I’m looking at this England team and wondering why they played so many shots against a world-class bowler like Starc,” Vaughan continued.
“He bowled some good balls, but there were far too many mistakes.”
“If England are going to win in Australia, they cannot play just one way.
“You cannot win Down Under by playing only this expansive, ultra-risky style. There is a reason it has never been done before.”
“They have to learn, and they have to learn quickly, how to go up and down in the gears. You cannot drive expansively at everything at the start of an innings. That is why they are in this position.
“For two days we have been royally entertained.
“But I would like to be entertained for four days, not two. To bat only 67 overs in a Test match is not good enough.”
