Stokes Takes Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
The England captain delivered six wickets in his return to play after July but England encountered an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test 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 omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by hitting 84.
McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
Stokes was superb in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of the team's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of winning back the series are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself in front of the struggling Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.