Stokes Secures 6 Scalps in English Ashes Warm-up
Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)
Development squad 382: Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
National team: awaiting batting
Ben Stokes delivered 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England encountered an fitness worry involving fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against England Lions in Perth.
Captain's Impressive Return
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder injury, bowled sixteen overs across three spells for his 6-52 versus the Lions – all to catches taken on the on-side.
Wood's Fitness Concern
Fast bowler Mark Wood, himself returning after nine months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of 8 overs before exiting the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.
Wood's injury drained the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for three hundred eighty-two on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at the venue.
Squad Strategy
England wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, beginning on November 21st.
In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialist bowlers plus the captain – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Performance Standouts
Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for selection in the Test team, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by scoring eighty-four.
Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the Lions has been questioned by some ex-players but Stokes responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of fans at Lilac Hill was definitely a different experience from what the team will face at a packed Optus Stadium next week.
Stokes Supreme Return
The captain was excellent in the contest 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 skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four tours because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of regaining the Ashes are significantly reduced if he is absent from any of the five Tests in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in fine shape on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his dismissals were gifted.
Will Jacks Pushes Case
Will Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have revealed their hand with the eleven named here. Nevertheless, he may have moved himself ahead of the struggling Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Brydon Carse missed the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Josh Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney edging to the keeper just after lunch.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and again after the interval, when he discomforted Jacks.
In the absence of Bashir and with Wood departing, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an run rate of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a scalp in the final session when Matt Fisher somehow struck a full delivery to mid-on before Archer bounced out Matthew Potts for 53 with the last delivery of the day.