England set to reject future pink-ball Ashes Tests

England plan to reject any proposals to play a day-night Test using a pink ball under lights in the next Ashes series in Australia.

BBC Sport understands the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) indicated their stance for the 2029-30 series to Cricket Australia (CA) following post-Ashes talks between senior officials.

England lost a one-sided day-night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane by eight wickets last month to go 2-0 down in an Ashes series they would eventually lose 4-1.

Discussions held by the ECB and CA focused on maintaining the Ashes as a blue-ribbon series at a time when the future of Test cricket is under scrutiny.

England and Australia are due to play a one-off day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first ever Test at the same venue.

Those plans were originally unveiled in August 2024 and it is understood England will get the opportunity to play a warm-up match before the showpiece MCG fixture.

The decision to play that anniversary match as a day-night Test has not been a universally popular one, though, which might prompt a rethink.

BBC Sport has been told that one influential ex-Australia player has directly voiced concerns to Cricket Australia and urged them to consider switching the match to a red-ball game.

Pink-ball Tests do hold appeal to broadcasters given the viewer friendly time-slot and figures for the Ashes Test in Brisbane were higher than the matches in Perth and Adelaide.

However, CA do not have contractual agreements with host broadcasters in Australia - Seven and Fox - to have an annual pink-ball Test.

Australia are due to host Bangladesh and New Zealand in 2026-27 and none of those eight Tests will be pink-ball games.

Day-night Tests were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council in 2015 in the hope audiences would be "encouraged and improved".

The concept has been embraced in Australia. Fourteen of the 25 day-night Tests to have been played have been there.

Australia also have an outstanding record in day-night Tests, winning 14 of their 15 worldwide. England have won two of their seven, including four defeats in Australia.

On the eve of the second Test in Brisbane, England batter Joe Root questioned whether the Ashes needed a pink-ball Test.

"A series like this, does it need it? I don't think so, but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be here either," Root told Test Match Special.

Despite the different colours, the pink and red balls used in Australia do not offer different amounts of swing and seam movement to pace bowlers.

The challenge for batters is seeing the pink ball under floodlights. Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has taken more wickets than any other bowler in day-night Tests, partly because of the number of deliveries he bowls above 87mph.

England are also set to be offered improved warm-up matches in Australia in the lead up to the next Ashes series down under.

As first reported by The Cricketer, England will be offered a first-class fixture at a venue of their choosing depending on where the opening Test will be staged.

Australia will also get to select the location of a warm-up match before the 2027 series in England commences.

England's preparations for the recent Ashes series were heavily criticised with coach Brendon McCullum later acknowledging they "didn't get it right".

Ben Stokes' side played just one warm-up match against an England Lions development side at Lilac Hill, where conditions were different from what they faced at Perth Stadium.