The Press Association today reports a comment from Stuart Broad. ‘We know what an important week this is,’ Broad says. ‘We’re going to take the WA game [which begins on Friday] very seriously, and try and get some really good preparation in before the first Test.’
The importance of this attitude cannot be overestimated. The scheduling of three first-class games before the Test series begins on November 25th is a departure from recent tours, where the thinking seemed to be that less is best. None of those farcical, two-day, 14-a-side games for these tourists.
Warm-up games must be a good idea. Since England last won in Australia in 1986-87, England have toured Australia five times, and, of course, lost every series. Generally, the biggest margins of defeat occur after the shortest warm-up periods.
1986-1987 First-class matches played before first Test: 3. Won 2-1
1990-1991 Matches: 3. Lost 3-0
1994-1995 Matches: 4. Lost 3-1
1998-1999 Matches: 3. Lost 3-1
2002-2003 Matches: 2. Lost 4-1
2006-2007 Matches: 1. Lost 5-0
By allowing themselves time to prepare and acclimatise, England are surely giving themselves the best possible chance of retaining the Ashes.
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