Stokes Takes 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain achieved 6 scalps in his first action after July but the tourists faced an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the first day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Captain's Outstanding Return
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation removed the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected later in the tour by swiping eighty-four.
McKinney, Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the critics "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was superb in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's past four tours because of various injuries and the tourists' hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been bowling at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI named here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Although Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer caught the eye. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a scalp in the closing stages when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
