""Well, it's not the way I would prepare," he said, speaking in Melbourne on Tuesday to announce a ticket ballot for next year's 150th anniversary Test at the MCG."
""Historically you have to acclimatise when you come down here," he said on Tuesday. "You've got to remember there's twenty four and a half million people you're playing against.""
""The longer they keep the other lad knowing who's going to be opening will work in favour of the bowlers," he said. "You need to settle players at the top, and I'd leave [Labuschagne] at three.""
England will play only one warm-up match against the Lions before the Ashes, with the final players arriving in Perth less than two weeks before the first Test on 21 November. Previous tours included more preparatory matches, including two intra-squad matches in 2021 and four games against local sides in 2017. A contracted lead-in under coach Brendan McCullum has become common. Concerns exist that limited red-ball practice and scarce time to acclimatise to Australian pitches and crowds could disadvantage the tourists. Stability at the top of the order is emphasised, with a recommendation to keep Marnus Labuschagne at number three and to announce the opener early.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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