Ben Stokes Takes Six Scalps in England Ashes Preparation Match
Practice match, Perth venue (first day of 3)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: yet to bat
Ben Stokes delivered six wickets in his initial appearance since July but England faced an injury concern regarding Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Perth.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, delivered sixteen overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Worry
Pace bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee problem, delivered a scheduled amount 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 drained the energy out of the day, as the England Lions were dismissed for 382 on a sluggish pitch after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.
Team Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialists plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Highlights
Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by hitting eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary warm-up game against the Lions has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by labeling the doubters "past players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Performance
The captain was excellent in the contest against the Indian team in the home summer, only to strain himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a torn shoulder.
The skipper has not managed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of various injuries and the tourists' chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for two months and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to play in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the eleven named here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his 84, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Even before the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his position going to Josh Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Archer caught the eye. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Root was asked to bowl fourteen overs of his spin bowling. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for 53 with the final ball of the day.
