Will England’s relaxed Ashes build-up come back to bite them?

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The Ashes

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Will England’s relaxed Ashes build-up come back to bite them?

Geoff Lawson Cricket columnist November 8, 2025 — 7.00pm

The English have finally disembarked on the great southern shore, but are they ready to take on the old enemy in the rigours of Test match cricket?

The route has been circuitous. The idea of a white ball frolic across the ditch might, prima facie, seem like the least appropriate preparation for a clash of the titans scheduled across 47 days of which 20 are scheduled playing days and nights. Head coach Brendon McCullum and Co have made a few bob in New Zealand, smacked a few sixes and lost all three matches, but what the heck.

Firstly, let’s examine the value of the 50 over matches played at Mount Maunganui, Hamilton and Welling