Stokes Secures Six Scalps in England Test Series Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a pre-planned number of eight overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
England wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by swiping eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain hit back by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.