PERTH, Australia (AP) — England cricket captain Ben Stokes has defended his side's lack of warm-up matches as the team prepares for the first Ashes test against Australia in Perth beginning Nov. 21.

England is looking to break a 14-year winless run in Australia. Stokes and fellow veteran batter Joe Root have never won a test in Australia, with no survivors left from the 2010-11 series win.

Australia has won 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 the last three times England has traveled Down Under for the most anticipated series in world cricket .

England's only preparation for the first test is a three-day match against the England Lions, essentially an England A team, starting on Thursday at Lilac Hill in Perth.

That decision has drawn criticism from Ashes greats on both sides such as Ian Healy, Ian

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