Marcus Trescothick has defended England's limited red-ball preparation ahead of The Ashes while Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has brushed off Stuart Broad's assessment that the hosts have their "worst team since 2010".

England will play a solitary three-day warm-up game against the England Lions from November 13 ahead of the Ashes opener at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21.

That is in stark contrast to the last time the tourists triumphed in Australia in 2010/11 when they took on state sides Western Australia and South Australia as well as Australia A during a heavy build-up ahead of the drawn first Test in Brisbane.

England went on to win the second, fourth and fifth Tests of the series by an innings to secure a 3-1 victory, with Australia's sole success coming in the third

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