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The English key batsmen chose to skip a day-night practice game in Canberra, despite a comprehensive defeat in the opening Ashes Test in Western Australia.

The tourists were beaten in under 48 hours in Perth, leaving an 11-day gap before the upcoming pink-ball Test in Queensland.

The break opened up the option for players to join the England Lions two-day day-night match versus a Prime Minister's XI in the capital this weekend.

Instead, just pace bowlers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts, along with batsman a young player – none of whom featured in the Perth match – are set to go and link up with the development squad.

Reports indicate that none of the first-Test players asked to play in the Canberra fixture.

Former England Star Describes Move "Bizarre"

Upon learning England thought about sending players to Canberra for the England Lions game, we assumed they would send players requiring match time.

Ex- English fast bowler and lead analyst continued:

The team must take charge of how they prepare and how they perform during matches. They are responsible for giving it their best shot to win the series. The real test comes with the results.

Lost Chance for Day-Night Practice

This match with the invitational side is a tradition for touring sides to Australia.

The tourists participated in the fixture in past series in Australia, but was left out from their plans on this occasion because of a potential short gap to Brisbane had the Perth Test gone the full duration.

Travel from Perth to the capital takes just under 240 minutes, with a additional 120-minute flight between Canberra and Brisbane.

Yet, given the first Test finished in just two days – the first 48-hour Test in the series in over a century – the idea of sending some of the batsmen to Canberra appeared to make sense.

Batting Issues in Perth

• The tourists were bowled out twice in Perth in under 68 overs.
• Not since the early 1900s has the team faced so few balls in a defeat in a Test.
• Each of captain Ben Stokes and ex-skipper failed to reach double figures in both innings.
• Zak Crawley became one of just four England opening batsman to record a pair in an Ashes match.

The side had just a single warm-up match before the Perth match, so the game in Canberra could have offered valuable batting practice.

Rare Day-Night Challenge Coming Up

In addition, the Lions match would have offered practice using the pink ball, with the team set to face a rare day-night Test.

England been defeated in five of their seven previous pink-ball Tests, while Australia triumphed in thirteen from fourteen.

In pace bowler a key bowler, who took 10 wickets in the first Test, Australia boast the top pink-ball bowler in the game.

Among the probable line-up in Brisbane, gloveman Jamie Smith and pace bowler Gus Atkinson are yet to experience a red-ball game with a pink ball, while Brydon Carse has played only one.

Leadership Stance

Questioned after the Perth match whether England would change preparations and send squad members to Canberra, captain Ben Stokes remained firm in refusing.

This question has come up a lot, that's how it was done a long time ago. We prepare incredibly well and work intensely every day we get the opportunity.

Coach the coach appeared to suggest flexibility when he said:

We've just got to determine the advantages and disadvantages. We're not married to any position currently, but we'll work it out in a couple of days.

McCullum continued that he was "sure" a batsman could play in the capital if he wanted to.

Concerns from Ex-Skipper

Commenting on Saturday, ex-skipper a well-known figure stated it would be "unprofessional" to decline the opportunity to participate in Canberra.

How could it hurt playing 48 hours of cricket using the pink ball in evening conditions?

He continued:

It's hard to believe so traditional to suggest that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better?

The approach I'd take is, you've got a pink-ball 48-hour match, you seize the opportunity, make the most of it, participate fully and give yourself the optimal preparation.

England will travel to Queensland midweek and are not scheduled to train before the start of the week. Exists the chance of an extra practice on Sunday.