Furthermore, the Lions match would have given time to use the pink ball, as England would be playing a rare test between day and night.
England have lost five of their previous seven night games, while Australia have won 13 of 14. In pace bowler Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in Perth, Australia have the best pink-ball bowler in the world.
Of England’s likely XI in Brisbane, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and bowler Gus Atkinson have never played a first-class match with a pink ball, while Brydon Carse has only played one.
When asked after the first Test if England would alter their plans and send players to Canberra, Stokes insisted they would not.
“I’ve been asked this question many times, this is how it was done a long time ago,” he told Test Match Special. “We prepare incredibly well and work incredibly hard every day that we have the opportunity to work on our game.
“We’ve operated this way where we know the preparation we do is correct in the way it works for us.”
Coach McCullum seemed to leave the door open when he said, “We just have to figure out what the pros and cons are. We’re not married to any position right now, but we’ll figure it out in a couple of days.”
McCullum added he was “sure” a batsman could play in Canberra if he wanted to.
England travel to Brisbane on Wednesday and are not scheduled to train until Monday. There is the possibility of an extra training session on Sunday.
Speaking on Saturday, former captain Michael Vaughan said he would be “amateur” to pass up the opportunity to play in Canberra.
“What’s the harm in playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under the lights?” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.
“Can’t I be so old-fashioned as to suggest that playing cricket they could improve a little?
“My method would be: you have a two-day game of pink ball, you go and take it, you go and take it, play those two days and give yourself the best opportunity.”
