Ollie Pope recorded his first century of England’s Ashes tour on day two of the warm-up against the England Lions, strengthening his bid to bat at No 3 in the first Test in Perth on November 21. Pope made exactly 100 from 113 balls as he presses Jacob Bethell for a starting spot; Bethell managed just two for the Lions on day one.
England openers Ben Duckett (92) and Zak Crawley (82) shared a commanding 182-run opening stand against Andrew Flintoff’s Lions, while captain Ben Stokes added 77 as the tourists reached 426. Crawley praised Pope after play, saying the batter ‘played brilliantly today, he looks in great touch’ and looks focused.
There was disappointment for middle-order pair Joe Root (1) and Harry Brook (2). Root was caught off a miscued pull to Durham seamer Matthew Potts, and Brook was bowled after charging down the track to Warwickshire’s Nathan Gilchrist. The two, key figures for England, faced only 28 balls combined and their dismissals sparked a mini-collapse of 4 for 16 following a wicketless morning session. Brook repeatedly advanced down the track and even attempted an aggressive ramp that nearly landed back with seamer Matt Fisher.
Root’s continued failure to reach a century in Australia — he has now gone 14 Tests without one there — remains a talking point ahead of the Ashes, but Crawley sought to calm concerns: ‘He’s spent a lot of time in the middle over the last few years. I think he’ll be just fine. We’re doing everything we can with what we’ve got and I feel like we’re going to be ready next week.’
Pope was dismissed shortly after reaching three figures, bowled attempting a sweep off frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir, who finished with 16 overs for 68 and will have dented hopes of starting the first Test. In the afternoon Mark Wood was sent for scans on a hamstring issue, with early signs suggesting the injury may not be serious.
In domestic action in Australia, likely first-Test contenders Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne were involved in a dramatic Sheffield Shield finish at the WACA as Western Australia edged Queensland by one wicket. Chasing 272, WA scraped home thanks to an unbroken 23-run last-wicket stand between Corey Rocchiccioli (24 not out) and Cameron Gannon (10). All-rounder Green made 17 in the second innings after a first-innings 94, while Labuschagne—expected to open for Australia in Perth—played a key role with the ball, bowling Aaron Hardie lbw for 12 as WA looked shaky before the late recovery.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26 (All times UK and Ireland)
– First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
– Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
– Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
– Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
– Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground