In the next five days, Australia's players will enjoy the first huge luxury of hosting a home Ashes series.

Not because of the conditions or the fact record-breaking crowds are expected, but in terms of what the last full week of warm-ups looks like.

Every member of Australia's squad, with the exception of Usman Khawaja, will play in Sheffield Shield games at the SCG, WACA and Bellerive Oval this week.

At the same time, England will be playing a three-day intra-squad game at Perth's Lilac Hill, a venue that has never hosted a men's international.

The tourists' preparations were questioned by former England captain Michael Vaughan last week, pointing to the vast difference in conditions to Perth Stadium.

Keen not to light an early fuse, Australia's players have stayed away from questio

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