Ben Stokes is, statistically, barely half the player in day-night Tests. Jofra Archer has bowled just five overs with the pink ball.

Mark Wood is the only other English bowler to have sent one down in a Test match. And tormented opener Zak Crawley’s middling Test record only gets worse once the lights go on.

England’s decision to stick to their pre-tour course and knock back the chance for extra day-night match practice against a PM’s XI in Canberra drew criticism and consternation before it was locked in on Monday night.

The tourists’ pink-ball numbers – and distinct lack thereof – only intensifies the spotlight on their polarising tour schedule, which had the PM’s XI originally planned to host an English first team this weekend.

Cricket Australia was then told the second-string Lions would take their place, with England’s floundering top six from the Perth Test opting against taking up extra game-time when it was offered.

Back-up batter Jacob Bethell and seamers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts (none of whom played in Perth) will instead join the Lions side, while the rest of Stokes’ squad will begin preparations for the December 4 second Test at the Gabba (a day-night affair) early.

Floodlit training sessions are planned and viewed as a better build-up to the traditionally bouncy Brisbane pitch than the........

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