England’s start to the Ashes tour Down Under didn’t exactly go to plan, with a tour match cruelled by rain in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The tourists have been quarantining in the sunshine state, no doubt watching the Tim Paine drama unfold and thanking their lucky stars the home media has its attention turned to other matters currently.
They stepped out for their first public appearance on Australian soil to play an intra-squad match and begin preparations for the series beginning at the Gabba on December 8.
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They didn’t get much action – and neither did the relatively small crowd which gathered to watch – as rain set in and players were forced off the field.
Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed – who is yet to play a Test in Australia – batted for a while and finished with scores of 39 and 53 respectively, before the weather ended day one.
Captain Joe Root and a fit-again Ben Stokes are hoping to get time in the middle tomorrow if the rain stays away.
Wet weather is predicted for Australia’s east coast for most of summer, with the Bureau of Meteorology today declaring a La Nina event for the country.
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England is due to play another tour match next week as their last proper hit-out before the Ashes gets underway.
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