Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in England Ashes Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
The England captain delivered 6 scalps in his initial appearance since July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after nearly four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 against England Lions – each to catches taken on the leg side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring problem. He will undergo scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury removed the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and left off-spinner Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Bethell failed to press his claim for inclusion in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also made fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's decision to play a single practice match against the Lions has been criticized by some ex-players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "past players".
A relaxed opening 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 Performance
The captain was excellent in the series against the Indian team in the domestic season, only to strain himself to injury. He was absent from the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
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 Case
Will Jacks is not expected to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Tongue had Lions opener Ben McKinney caught behind just after the break.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Matt Fisher unexpectedly hit a full toss to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
