\n<\/p>\n
In addition, the Lions match would have given time using the pink ball, with England due to play a rare day-night Test.<\/p>\n
England have lost five of their seven previous day-nighters, while Australia have won 13 from 14. In pace bowler Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in Perth, Australia have the best pink-ball bowler in the world.<\/p>\n
Of England’s likely XI in Brisbane, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have never played a first-class match with a pink ball, while Brydon Carse has played only one.<\/p>\n
Asked after the first Test if England would alter their plans and send players to Canberra, Stokes was adamant they would not.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been asked this question a lot, that’s how it was done a long time ago,” he told Test Match Special. “We prepare incredibly well and work incredibly hard every day we get the opportunity to work on our game.<\/p>\n
“We’ve operated in this way where we know that the preparation we put in is correct in the way it works for us.”<\/p>\n
Coach McCullum appeared to leave the door open when he said: “We’ve just got to work out what the pros and cons are. We’re not married to any position at the moment, but we’ll work it out in a couple of days.”<\/p>\n
McCullum added he was “sure” a batter could play in Canberra if he wanted to.<\/p>\n
England will travel to Brisbane on Wednesday and are not scheduled to train until Monday. There is the possibility of an extra training session on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Saturday, former captain Michael Vaughan said it would be “amateurish” to pass up the opportunity to play in Canberra.<\/p>\n
“What harm is it playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under lights?” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.<\/p>\n
“I can’t be so old school to suggest that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better?<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n