Cricket: England expect the unexpected from rain-sodden Gabba pitch

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Australia v England - 2013/14 Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test Series First Test - The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia - 23/11/13. General view Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason O'Brien

SYDNEY (Reuters) - All-rounder Chris Woakes said England were preparing to play on a very different Gabba wicket in the first Ashes test next week after an unusually wet Brisbane spring left ground staff scrambling to prepare the surface.

After days preparing in indoor nets, the England players finally got to play outside on Brisbane's Ian Healy Oval on Thursday on what should have been the third day of a four-day intra-squad match.