Ben Stokes Secures Six Wickets in England Test Series Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: awaiting batting
The England captain achieved six wickets in his first action since July but the tourists faced an fitness worry about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, returning after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against the Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury sucked the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Strategy
England wanted to field first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists fielded an all-pace attack – four specialists plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test side, making just two runs, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's plan to play a solitary warm-up game against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a world away from what England will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a full part in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining 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 two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of illness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Although the captain took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the omission of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the closing stages when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the last delivery of the day.
