Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice match, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his return to play since July but the tourists faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, returning after approximately four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered sixteen overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against the Lions – each to catches taken on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled a pre-planned number of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring problem. He will receive scanning on Friday.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon during the series by swiping 84.
Ben McKinney, Cox, teenage Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been questioned by some ex-players but the captain responded by calling the critics "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Excellent Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the last match with a shoulder tear.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five Tests in Australia.
He has been practicing at full pace for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their intentions with the XI named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Although Stokes 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 absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
