The lamps have been loaned by West Midlands Police after being confiscated in raids on cannabis farms, ESPNCricinfo reported on Monday, and the Warwickshire curator Gary Barwell is hopeful that they will also assist in drying an outfield drenched by consistent rain in the lead-up to Wednesday's first day.

There has been a great deal of focus on the pitches so far in this series, with complaints about the deck in Cardiff from the moment a ball delivered by Mitchell Starc in his first over bounced twice on its way through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and further debate about the strip at Lord's when Australia's Steve Smith and Chris Rogers made it look like a road on the first day.

England coach Trevor Bayliss subsequently admitted the flat surface there played into Australia's hands, and said he would like more life in the pitch at Edgbaston and beyond.

That call may well have been answered with the borrowing of the hot lamps, generally used to assist in the growth of cannabis plants.

"We have done this a few times and after a month's worth of rain on Friday, we decided we could do with them again," a Warwickshire club spokesman said. Notts County football club, who are in England's fourth tier, use similar devices to help grow grass at their home ground, Meadow Lane.

Starc, who has said England are "are not really sure what to do now" with the pitches here, liked the look of the grass covering he saw in the middle on Monday.

"We'll find out on day one, but the way it is at the moment, I guess the quicks on both sides will be happy to see it stay the way it is," Starc said.

Despite the intense scrutiny of the pitches both Tests to date have finished in four days.

"I want to see a result pitch where we can play some good competitive cricket and put a show on," England's Joe Root said.