Now first Test may be washed out as storms batter Brisbane

THE start of the Ashes could be a complete washout, with storms forecast to hit Brisbane for the first four days of next week’s Test. The unseasonal La Nina weather pattern that has seriously disrupted England’s preparations is set to dominate the first instalment of the series and could affect the other four Tests, with torrential rain hitting the whole of Australia’s east coast. So far England have managed just 29 overs on the first morning of their first warm-up game, before La Nina struck in Queensland. Yesterday saw the second day of their final chance to gain any sort of match practice washed out. It had been assumed that the late arrival of Ben Stokes in the Ashes squad would balance the England side and allow spinner Jack Leach (right) to be given a chance at the Gabba. But Sportsmail revealed last summer that England were considering going into the Ashes with an all-seam attack and relying on captain Joe Root for variation anyway, because of the historical lack of success for finger spinners in Australia. And soggy conditions that could bring England’s seamers more into the contest than was imagined appear to have scuppered any chance Leach had of playing in the first Test. The left-arm spinner, a reserve for so much of the last two Covid-hit years, remained upbeat yesterday as England again took cover from the rain at their Brisbane base and were forced indoors to scramble together some practice. ‘Stokesy being back is a great boost for all of us,’ said Leach. ‘In terms of the balance it really helps things out and is probably good news for the spin department. ‘When I was not playing over the summer I was thinking about this series, so I feel preparations have been ongoing. Now it’s about getting out there and doing it.’