The Ashes: Crucial Australian training session delayed by lightning at Perth Stadium on Wednesday

Australia’s training session two days out from The West Test has been delayed by lightning, adding more drama to the build-up to the Ashes series.

Players had just moved from the Perth Stadium outfield to the nets when they were called back inside by staff because of a threat of lightning.

No strikes could be seen from the Burswood venue.

Storm activity had been expected to develop around midday, and Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said storms had already developed in the north of Perth, near Gingin, and over the next couple of hours, those thunderstorms will move towards the city.

“Some of these storms may bring gusty winds, pockets of heavy rain, and hail, though not everyone will be hit.”

Wednesday’s forecast predicts a low of 18C and a high of 28C, with scattered thunderstorms expected around 12pm.

Players were allowed back into the nets at 11am, with the session delayed by more than half an hour.

Australia are scheduled to train until about midday, with England set to take to the nets in a crucial session later in the afternoon.

In the early part of the session, all-rounders Cam Green and Beau Webster both took catches as part of a slips cordon during fielding training on the outfield.

Marnus Labuschagne also spent time at third slip as Australia weigh up picking both Green and Webster or specialist opener Jake Weatherald. The man tasked with that call — selection chair George Bailey — threw balls for the cordon.

Weatherald took close-in catches with Travis Head during the session as he waits to learn whether he will make an Ashes debut.

West Australian pace ace Mahli Beardman trained with the group on Wednesday as part of his integration with the national side. The WA-contracted teenager has twice been named in white-ball squads and is expected to lead Perth Scorchers’ attack this summer.