Star-studded Sheffield Shield Round Launches Final Ashes Preparation
Australia’s cricket squad is using this week's Sheffield Shield round as crucial preparation before the Ashes opener. All players except Usman Khawaja are participating in state-level matches in Sydney, Perth, and Hobart, fine-tuning their form ahead of the first Test.
Meanwhile, England is conducting a three-day intra-squad match at Perth’s Lilac Hill, a ground that has never hosted a men’s international. Former England captain Michael Vaughan recently questioned this choice, emphasizing how different the conditions are compared to the Optus Stadium, where the Test will take place.
"England can prepare however they want to prepare," Nathan Lyon said. "I am not worried about how they're preparing or anything to do with them until the morning of November 21."
Australia’s players have deliberately avoided commenting on England’s approach, preferring to focus on their own game. The English team’s unorthodox preparation reflects modern scheduling pressures, which have reduced opportunities for traditional tour matches. In 2023, Australia faced a similar situation before their own successful Ashes campaign in England, where they entered without warm-up games yet began the series strongly.
Author’s Summary
The Australian squad fine-tunes its game in Sheffield Shield matches, while England’s limited preparation in Perth raises questions ahead of the Ashes opener.