Ben Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
Stokes, returning after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
The tourists aimed to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected later in the tour by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what England will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Supreme Return
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.