Ben Stokes Claims 6 Wickets in England Ashes Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (day one of three)
England Lions 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52
England XI: still to bat
Ben Stokes produced 6 scalps in his first action after July but England encountered an injury concern involving Mark Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation versus the development squad in Western Australia.
Skipper's Outstanding Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months away with a shoulder injury, delivered 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two against England Lions – all to catches on the on-side.
Wood's Injury Concern
Fast bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, bowled 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.
The Wood situation removed the intensity out of the day, as the England Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at the venue.
Team Strategy
England aimed to bowl first to get overs in their legs before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus Stokes – and left spin bowler Bashir in the development squad.
Batting Standouts
Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his claim to be selected during the series by swiping 84.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, teenage Rew and Potts also scored fifties.
Low-key Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by calling the doubters "former players".
A relaxed first day in front of a smattering of spectators at Lilac Hill was definitely a world away from what the team will face at a sold-out main stadium next week.
Captain's Supreme Performance
Stokes was excellent in the contest against India in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the last match with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a full part in any of the team's past four series because of different fitness issues and the team's chances of winning back the series are vastly diminished if he misses any of the five matches in the host country.
He has been practicing at maximum speed for 60 days and looked in good condition on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.
Will Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the opening match – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at nearly run-a-ball pace.
Prior to the concern over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.
Brydon Carse missed the first day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had Lions opener McKinney caught behind just after lunch.
Though Stokes took the scalps, Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the absence of Shoaib Bashir and with Mark Wood leaving the field, Joe Root was required to bowl 14 overs of his spin bowling. It was average performance, costing 117 runs at an economy of more than eight.
Joe Root at least claimed a scalp in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly hit a full delivery to mid-on before Archer dismissed with a bouncer Matthew Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
