The newly appointed vice-captain of England, James Anderson expressed his concern for the batting line-up following debacles in the four-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI. The English batting line-up failed to score 300 either innings of the game and only two-three batsmen applied required applications to score runs.

“It’s not ideal but hopefully we’re getting it out of the way before the Test series starts. It’s something we’ve got to look at and probably have a chat about it after the game as to why it happened and what we could have done differently to stop it happening again,” said Anderson, after his team’s 192-run win over CA XI.

Chris Woakes was the wrecker in chief behind CA XI’s nightmare in the second innings, where they were 25/7 at once before eventually getting out at 75. Anderson praised him for his hard work after a rather disappointed series against West Indies.

“He’s got better and better with every spell he’s bowled, deserved four wickets and could have had more. He’s back to his absolute best,” added Anderson.

The 35-year-old has been appointed to a new role in the team in the absence of Ben Stokes. However, he believes his role will remain the same.

The veteran pacer concluded while chirping “It’s a really nice thing for Joe to ask me to do. I don’t think it really changes my role in the team, as a senior player I’ve always felt I’ve got a responsibility to try and help out the guys. Myself, Stuart [Broad] and Alastair [Cook], who’ve been here before and had success here, play an important role on this trip so I don’t see that changing.”

England will play another four-day warm-up game from November 15 before heading into first Ashes Test in Brisbane, commencing from November 23.