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England faces WA XI before Australia ODI clash
5 Oct
Summary
- England to play Western Australia XI on November 7.
- Mason Crane recalled for ODI tri-series in Pakistan.
- Crane seen as better spin option than dropped Rehan Ahmed.
England is set to play a 50-over warm-up match against a Western Australia XI at the WACA on November 7. This fixture aims to provide valuable preparation before their ODI series against Australia, a move designed to avoid criticism following their Ashes campaign last winter. The team's previous sole Test warm-up was an internal match, which did not prepare them for the conditions encountered in the series opener.
White-ball coach Brendon McCullum had expressed a desire for more preparatory games, and this encounter in Perth, six days before the first ODI on November 13, fulfills that wish. The subsequent ODI series will see matches in Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart, followed by five T20 internationals across various Australian cities.
In other news, Mason Crane has been recalled to the England squad for an ODI tri-series in Pakistan, which also includes Sri Lanka, starting October 20. Crane replaces Rehan Ahmed, and Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton has voiced his support for this decision. Atherton suggested that Crane, now 29, offers a more developed leg-spin bowling option compared to Ahmed, whom he perceives as primarily a batter who bowls spin.
