Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England faced an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Return
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England aimed to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of spectators at the ground was definitely a world away from what the team will encounter at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Excellent Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of winning back the Ashes are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been bowling at full pace for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Will Jacks Pushes Claim
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Although the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was asked to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
