- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ashes 2025: Australia's last preparations before the series opener of the Ashes Test series came to a halt on Wednesday due to lightning occurring in a nearby area. The session was disrupted even though there were sunny conditions, which left both the players and the staff clueless as they were asked to leave the field midway.
They were seen practising fielding drills and then attended a net session, and that's when the officials interfered. The bowlers had just begun prepping, and that's when all the players, coaches, and media were told to go inside at 10.30 a.m. local time, and that affected their training session hugely ahead of their first match against England.
The officials revealed that this session was stopped, keeping the safety rules in mind, and said, "If lightning is 5 km or less away from the ground, then outside activity needs to stop." The rules are the same for all major sporting events in Western Australia, which have resulted in delays in AFL and other tournaments over the last few years.
This stoppage wasn't ideal for the host, who were trying to work on their strategies and adapt to these conditions before the first Test match. Since it wasn't raining, the players were in their dressing rooms with no clarity as to whether their training session would resume or not.
Since the weather was clear, the continued lightning meant that the session was on the verge of being called off. Safety-first interruptions like these, which are quite common in this area, created an unwelcome unpredictability for the host.
The Ben Stokes-led side will be reaching the stadium later in the day. This disturbance to the host's plan might result in a tough spot for both teams, increasing their logistical challenges as they gear up for their first Test match.