England Set for Pink-Ball Prime Minister’s XI Clash in Canberra Ahead of Gabba Ashes Test

England’s touring squad will face the Australia Prime Minister’s XI in a historic two-day pink-ball fixture at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on 29–30 November, ahead of the day-night Test at the Gabba, starting 4 December.

Match Details & Significance

• It’s the first multi-day meeting between England and the PM’s XI using the pink Kookaburra ball—a format introduced in the 2022–23 season.
   
• Positioned between the opening Test in Perth and the Gabba day-night Test in Brisbane, the fixture offers England a crucial acclimatisation opportunity to pink-ball conditions in match settings.
   
• The PM’s XI fixture replaces the traditional one-day game and dovetails neatly into Australia’s pink-ball Test preparations.

Preparation Through the Tour

• Prior to the PM’s XI match, England will play an intra-squad three-day practice game against England Lions at Lilac Hill, Perth, from 13–15 November, to fine-tune strategy and match routines ahead of the series opener.
   
• England Lions will continue their development fixtures alongside the Ashes Tests, including matches against a Cricket Australia XI and Australia A Team.

Cricket Tradition Reimagined

• The PM’s XI game, a proud Australian cricketing tradition since 1951, now features regularly in multi-day tours, reflecting the evolving demands of international scheduling.

The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has reiterated the desire of Cricket Australia to field a strong squad against England and has since pledged to meet with selectors to make up the national list.