The Ashes: England will not send first-choice batsmen to the pink-ball tour game

In addition, the Lions’ match would have been given time with the pink ball, with England scheduled to play a rare day-night Test.

England have lost five of their previous seven overnight matches, while Australia have won 13 of 14. In bowler Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in Perth, Australia have the best pink-ball bowler in the world.

Of Brisbane’s potential England players, wicket-keeper Jimmy Smith and bowler Gus Atkinson have not played a first-class match with a pink ball, while Brydon Carse has played just one.

When asked after the first Test whether England would change their plans and send players to Canberra, Stokes was adamant they would not.

“I get asked that question a lot, that’s how it’s been done for a long time,” he told Test Match Special. “We prepare extremely well and work incredibly hard every day that we have the opportunity to work on our game.

“We have worked this way as we know that the preparations we have made are correct in the way that suits us.”

Coach McCollum appeared to leave the door open when he said, “We’ve just got to figure out what the pros and cons are. We’re not married to any position right now, but we’ll work that out in a couple of days.”

McCullum added he was “sure” the 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 a possibility of an additional training session on Sunday.

Speaking on Saturday, former captain Michael Vaughan said it would be “amateuristic” to miss 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 podcast.

“Can’t I be so old school to suggest that by playing cricket they might improve a little?

“My approach would be you have a two-day pink ball game, go grab it, go grab it, play those two days and give yourself the best chance.”