Ben Stokes shrugged off criticism from "has-beens" over England's limited Ashes preparations, insisting this week's in-house warm-up against the Lions will be "balls to the wall".

The three-day game at Lilac Hill from Thursday (2am UK time) is England's sole fixture before the opening Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium from November 21, a decision that has drawn heat from the likes of former England captains Lord Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan.

Ex-Australia opener Simon Katich also told the West Australian newspaper - a publication that slammed Stokes and Joe Root with frontpage headlines upon their arrivals for the series - that England's schedule was "asking for trouble".

However captain Stokes told reporters on Wednesday: "The next three days is balls to the wall for

See Full Page