The opening Ashes Test is in danger of being completely EXCLUDED with predictions predicting that La Nina storms will hit Brisbane

The onset of the ashes could turn into a full washout, with storms now being predicted to hit Brisbane for the first four days of next week's opening test.

The unusual weather pattern in La Nina, which seriously disrupted England's preparations for Ashes, will dominate the first part of the series and could affect the other four tests, with torrential rains hitting all of Australia's east coast.

So far, England have only managed 29 overs on the first morning of their first warm-up match before La Nina struck in Queensland. On Wednesday, the second day of her last chance to collect any kind of match practice was completely washed out.

It had been believed that Ben Stokes 'late arrival in Ashes' squad might even out the English side and give a weirdo in Jack Leach a chance at the gabba.

But Sportsmail revealed last summer that England are considering going into the ashes with a seam attack and relying on captain Joe Root for variation anyway, given that the fingertips in Australia have not been successful in the past.

And muddy conditions, which might bring England's sailors into competition more than anyone had imagined, seem to have ruined any chance Leach had of playing in the First Test.

But the left-arm spinner, which has been a perennial reserve for the last two Covid-hit years, remained optimistic on Wednesday as England took cover from the rain again at its Brisbane base and was forced to practice some indoors.

Stokesey's return is a big boost for all of us, ”said Leach. “It really helps with balance and is probably good news for the spin department.

“When I haven't played for the summer, I was thinking about this series so I feel like preparations are underway. Now it's about getting out there and doing it. ' Meanwhile, the BBC gave Michael Vaughan a lifeline on Wednesday by saying they would continue to work with him next year. But it remains struck from the ashes.

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Vaughan was fired from the Test Match Special team after becoming embroiled in Azeem Rafiq's allegations of institutionalized racism in Yorkshire, and the BBC insisted that his position as commentator was compromised by his involvement in the story.

The former England captain has yet to work on television coverage of the Ashes for Australia's Fox Sports, but as Sportsmail revealed last week, BT won't be using their comment if Vaughan is involved.

That means BT is hastily recruiting its own comment team, with Ian Bell expected to be a late addition, but Vaughan tweeted Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid and would delay his arrival in Australia. If he's not allowed to comment on the first two tests, as expected now, BT will use the full Fox comment.