Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Return
Stokes, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 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 away with a knee injury, delivered a pre-planned number of 8 overs before exiting the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
The Wood situation sucked the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Team Planning
The tourists 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 fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also made half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a sold-out main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a full part in any of England's past four series because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for two months and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Still, 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 doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
