Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Preparation Match
Tour match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action following July but the tourists encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain'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 6-52 against the Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months away with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight 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 dismissed for three hundred eighty-two on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to field first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, beginning on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the tourists fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and omitted spin bowler Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "has-beens".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the contest against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a full part in any of the team's previous four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing 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 wickets were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Jacks is not expected to play in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to deliver fourteen overs of his off-spin. 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 Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.