Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up
Tour game, Lilac Hill (first day of 3)
England Lions 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
National team: still to bat
Ben Stokes achieved six wickets in his initial appearance after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
Stokes, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Worry
Fast bowler Wood, himself returning after 9 months away with a knee problem, bowled a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
The Wood situation sucked the intensity out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a sluggish pitch after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the visiting team fielded an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Bethell failed to press his claim for selection in the Test team, making just two runs, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting 84.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Matthew Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Environment
England's plan to play a single practice match against the development squad has been questioned by some former players but Stokes responded by calling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what England will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium the following week.
Captain's Excellent Performance
Stokes 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 the host country.
He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Jacks Pushes Claim
Jacks is not expected to feature in the opening match – the team look to have shown their hand with the XI selected here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the team lineup for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though Stokes took the wickets, Archer impressed observers. He was energetic with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he caused problems for Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Mark Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, conceding 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Root at least claimed a wicket in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
