England Cricket Team No Longer Interested in Playing Pink-Ball Tests in Australia After Ashes Setback

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has no plans to accept any pink-ball day/night Tests in the Ashes series in Australia in the future. This comes after Ben Stokes & his team were defeated by 8 wickets in the second Ashes Test between AUS & ENG, which can be termed as a one-sided encounter. As per sources, England Cricket decided upon this based upon discussions btw ECB & Cricket Australia officials in a post-Ashes meeting.

According to a report by BBC Sport, talks between government representatives of the ECB and CA were centered on how the Ashes series can be maintained as a premier series, particularly during a time when Test cricket was under the magnifying glass.

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England Founded: 1739

England is regarded as the birthplace of cricket and has won the Ashes 32 times.

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Australia Founded: 1877

The Australian cricket team is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history and has a tremendous record in one-dayers, having won more than 60% of the matches they have played.

Even though there exists a plan between Australia and England for a solitary pink-ball Test Encounter in 2027 at MCG, marking 150 years of Test cricket, there exists a claim that an ex-Australia cricketer has asked CA to make it a red-ball Test, according to the report by BBC Sport. England has reportedly planned on ditching plans for Test cricket played under light during their tour of the Ashes in 2029/30, according to a report by BBC Sport.

🏏 England are unlikely to have to play a pink-ball day-night Test when they tour Australia in 2029-30 as the ECB and Cricket Australia look to ensure future Ashes series are more competitive

Full story by @legsidelizzy ⬇️https://t.co/G71TP2q0VG

— Times Sport (@TimesSport) January 13, 2026

England played their last day-night Test before the Brisbane Test in 2023 against England, winning the match by 267 runs. On the whole, England have played 8 pink-ball tests till date since the introduction of pink-ball tests in 2015, of which they have successfully won just 2. England have lost 4 day-night tests out of the 4 that they have played against their Aussie rivals, as well as 1 against India. They have been able to win pink-ball tests against New Zealand as well as the West Indies.

Australia, on the other hand, has tasted success in 14 out of 15 pink-ball tests played by them. Their defeat occurred when they were opposed by the West Indies in 2022 at The Gabba, thanks to the brilliance of Shamar Joseph.

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AFG-U19 VS SA-U19 6th ODI U19 World Cup 2026: Where to Watch Afghanistan U19 vs South Africa U19, H2H, Playing 11 & Full Match Details The 6thmatch of the U19 World Cup 2026 will play between Afghanistan U19will face the South Africa U19on Friday, 16thJanuaryat 1:00PM.

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