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

In addition, the Lions would be given time to use the pink ball with England due to play a rare day-night test in the game.

England lost five of their seven day-and-nighters, while Australia won 13 of their 14. Perth, Australia, has the world’s best pink-ball bowler in pace bowler Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets.

Among England’s possible starting XI in Brisbane, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and pace bowler Gus Atkinson have never played a first-class match with the pink ball, while Brydon Carse has played just once.

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

“I get asked this question a lot, it was done that way a long time ago,” he told Test Match Special. “We prepare incredibly well and work incredibly hard every day we get the opportunity to work on our game.

“The way our preparation worked for us, we operated the way we knew was right.”

Coach McCullum appeared to leave the door open, saying: “We just need to figure out the pros and cons. We’re not married to any position right now, but we’ll figure it out in a few days.”

McCullum added that he was “confident” a batsman could play for 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 extra training session on Sunday.

Speaking on Saturday, former captain Michael Vaughan said it would be “amateurism” to pass up the opportunity to play in Canberra.

“What’s the harm in playing cricket for two days with a pink ball under the lights?” Vaughan said on the Test Match Special podcast:

“I can’t be old-fashioned enough to say they can get a little better by playing cricket, can I?

“My method is, you have a two-day pink-ball game, go get it, go get it, play those two days and give yourself the best chance.”