Poms lock in tour games

ENGLAND will play tour games in Perth, Adelaide and Townsville before facing Australia in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 23.

Joe Root’s England side will start their schedule against a Western Australia XI in a two-day match at the WACA Ground on November 4-5.

Earlier this month, the venue for the third Test was moved to the WACA Ground when it was determined a new stadium in Perth would not be finished in time.