Ben Stokes Claims 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his initial appearance following July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Ashes warm-up versus England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
Stokes, returning after approximately four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus the Lions – each to catches on the leg side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will undergo scanning on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow track after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Strategy
The tourists wanted to bowl first to build bowling fitness before the initial Test match at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a potential indication towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks enhanced his claim to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.
Low-key Environment
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but the captain hit back by calling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure first day in front of a small crowd of fans at Lilac Hill was certainly a different experience from what the team will face at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Stokes Supreme Return
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the last match with a torn shoulder.
The captain has not managed a complete participation in any of England's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and appeared in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Strengthens Case
Will Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – England look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself in front of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the team lineup for this game may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his position going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.
