Ben Stokes Takes Six Wickets in English Ashes Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
