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The English key batsmen have opted to avoid a day-night practice game in Canberra, despite a heavy defeat in the first Ashes Test in Western Australia.

The tourists lost in under two days in the first Test, leaving an 11-day gap before the upcoming day-night Test in Brisbane.

This gap opened up the chance for squad members to join the development squad 48-hour pink-ball match versus a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday.

However, only pace bowlers one bowler and Matthew Potts, along with batsman Jacob Bethell – none of whom featured in the first Test – are set to go and link up with the development squad.

Reports indicate that none of the first-Test players asked to participate in the Canberra match.

Former England Star Calls Decision "Strange"

Upon learning the team thought about dispatching players to Canberra for the development squad match, it was expected they would send players in need of practice.

Ex- English paceman and lead analyst added:

The team are responsible for their preparation and how they perform during matches. It's their job to doing everything possible to win the series. The real test comes with the results.

Missed Chance for Pink-Ball Practice

This match with the Prime Minister's XI is a tradition for visiting teams to Australia.

England participated in the game in past series in Australia, but was left out from their plans this time because of a potential short gap to the next Test if the Perth Test had lasted the full duration.

The flight from Perth to Canberra requires almost four hours, with a additional two-hour journey between Canberra to Brisbane.

Yet, given the first Test finished in just two days – marking 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.

Performance Issues in First Test

• The tourists dismissed twice in Perth inside 68 overs.
• Not since 1904 has the team faced such a low number of balls in a defeat in a Test.
• Both the skipper and ex-skipper failed to reach double figures in either innings.
• The opener was one of just four English opener to record a pair in an Ashes match.

England had just a single warm-up match prior to the first Test, so the fixture in the capital would have provided valuable time in the middle.

Rare Day-Night Test Coming Up

Furthermore, the Lions match would have offered experience using the day-night ball, with the team due to play a rare pink-ball Test.

England have lost 5 of their seven prior day-nighters, while Australia triumphed in thirteen from 14.

With Mitchell Starc, who claimed 10 wickets in the first Test, the home side boast the top pink-ball bowler in the world.

Among the probable line-up in Brisbane, gloveman one player and pace bowler another are yet to experience a red-ball game using a day-night ball, and a third has played only one.

Team Management Stance

Questioned after the first Test whether the team would alter their plans and send players to Canberra, the skipper was adamant they would not.

I've been asked a lot, that was the method a long time ago. Our preparations thoroughly and train incredibly hard every day we get the opportunity.

Head coach Brendon McCullum seemed to leave the door open when he stated:

We need to determine what the pros and cons are. We haven't committed to a fixed plan currently, but we'll decide soon.

McCullum added that he was "confident" a batter could play in Canberra if he wanted to.

Criticism from Ex-Skipper

Speaking recently, former captain a well-known figure stated it would be "amateurish" to decline the chance to participate in Canberra.

How could it hurt taking part in 48 hours of cricket with the pink ball under lights?

Vaughan continued:

It's hard to believe so old school to propose that by playing cricket they might get a little bit better?

My method would be, there's a day-night 48-hour match, you go and grab it, make the most of it, play those two days and provide yourself the best chance.

England will travel to Queensland on Wednesday and do not plan to practice until Monday. Exists the possibility of an additional practice on Sunday.