Vaughan Slams England’s ‘Amateurish’ Plan to Skip PM’s XI Match After Ashes Defeat

England’s heavy eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Ashes Test has sparked criticism from former captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook, after indications that the team may opt out of next week’s pink-ball tour match against a Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.

Following Australia’s rapid two-day win in Perth, England now have an 11-day gap before the second Test begins under lights at the Gabba on December 4. A two-day pink-ball fixture is scheduled for November 29, traditionally filled by the England Lions rather than the main Test squad.

England head coach Brendon McCullum initially kept the door open to sending senior players to Canberra. “I haven’t even thought about it just yet… We’ll let the dust settle tonight and then we’ll have a good think about it tomorrow,” he told BBC Test Match Special after the defeat.

But captain Ben Stokes suggested the Test squad would instead travel straight to Brisbane on November 26 to begin preparations. Defending their current approach, Stokes said England “prepare incredibly well” and would continue to trust their established training methods despite the setback in Perth.

Former opener Alastair Cook urged the team to reconsider, arguing that time in the middle was irreplaceable. Writing in his Sunday Times column, Cook said he would choose to play in the PM’s XI match, even at the risk of further scrutiny, because competitive pressure offers “long-term benefits” that net sessions cannot replicate.

Vaughan went further, branding it “amateurish” for England not to field their strongest possible side in Canberra. He insisted that even the fast bowlers who played in Perth should be involved. “What harm is playing two days of cricket with a pink ball under lights?” he said, stressing the unique challenges of day-night conditions and noting Australia’s dominant home record in pink-ball Tests. “My method would be: you’ve got a pink-ball, two-day game—go and grab it.”

England have already released Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, and Matthew Potts to join the Lions during their current match against a Cricket Australia XI and may follow a similar pattern for the PM's XI fixture.

The PM’s XI for the Canberra match will be captained by Peter Handscomb and includes fellow Test-experienced players Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, and veteran seamer Peter Siddle.

Whether England’s senior players will join them on the field remains undecided—but the pressure to do so is mounting.