Stokes Claims Six Wickets in English Test Series Warm-up
Practice game, Perth venue (first day of three)
Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, Ben McKinney 67; Stokes 6-52
England XI: yet to bat
Ben Stokes achieved 6 scalps in his return to play after July but England faced an injury concern about fast bowler Wood on the opening day of their Test preparation against England Lions in Western Australia.
Captain's Impressive Comeback
The England captain, making his comeback after almost four months out with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his six for fifty-two versus England Lions – each to catches on the on-side.
Mark Wood's Injury Concern
Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after 9 months out with a knee injury, delivered a scheduled amount of eight overs before leaving the field in the post-lunch session because of a hamstring issue. He will have a scan on Friday.
Wood's injury drained the energy out of the day, as the Lions were dismissed for 382 on a slow, low surface after an automatic toss at Lilac Hill.
Squad Planning
The tourists wanted to bowl first to accumulate bowling time before the first Ashes Test at the main venue, starting on 21 November.
In a possible hint towards their first-Test plans, the tourists selected an all-pace attack – four specialist bowlers plus Stokes – and omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the Lions.
Batting Highlights
Jacob Bethell didn't strengthen his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Jacks boosted his credentials to be selected during the series by scoring eighty-four.
McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also made half-centuries.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The team's plan to play a single warm-up game against the Lions has been criticized by some former players but Stokes hit back by labeling the doubters "former players".
A low-pressure opening day in front of a small crowd of fans at the ground was certainly a world away from what England will face at a packed main stadium the following week.
Stokes Excellent Performance
Stokes was excellent in the series against India in the domestic season, only to push himself to breaking point. He was absent from the final Test with a shoulder tear.
The skipper has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four tours because of various injuries and the team's hopes of regaining the series are vastly diminished if he is absent from any of the five matches in Australia.
He has been bowling at maximum speed for 60 days and appeared in good condition on the match day, even if he could not believe the way in which some of his wickets were presented.
Jacks Strengthens Claim
Jacks is unlikely to feature in the first Test – England look to have shown their intentions with the eleven selected here. Still, he may have moved himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Jacob Bethell with his eighty-four, which came at almost a run a ball.
Even before the doubt over Wood, the five seamers in the England XI for this game may not have been the attack for the initial match.
Carse was absent from the opening day because of sickness, with his place going to Tongue. Josh Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney edging to the keeper just after the break.
Though the captain took the wickets, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the new ball and again after lunch, when he discomforted Will Jacks.
In the omission of Bashir and with Wood departing, Joe Root was required to bowl fourteen overs of his off-spin. It was mediocre fare, costing 117 runs at an economy of over eight.
Joe Root at least took a wicket in the final session when Fisher unexpectedly struck a full toss to mid-on before Jofra Archer dismissed with a bouncer Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.
